To watch the knowledge
Of yesterday, grow today.
Handed down through time.
A Love Letter To My Grandfather
The art of bonsai has been in my life since I was very young. My grandfather, Walt Brainerd, was deeply connected to these tree’s. He spent much of his life caring for his collection that grew well into the hundreds. I have many fond memories of witnessing these trees change with time. My Grandfather no longer practices the art of bonsai, but I have begun my own journey to explore this relationship with time and nature.
Erloom is the convergence of our passions. Where my love for Design intertwines with my Grandfather’s love of bonsai. Meticulously crafted, these pots are a modern interpretation of traditional forms that span thousands of years.
As time passes, a part of me wishes I had become interested in learning about bonsai at an earlier age. To work alongside my grandfather and learn the knowledge he had obtained. Erloom is an expression of capturing time, of passing something tangible down to the next generation, to having something that reminds you of where you came from and where you might go next.
About Erloom
Passed down for generations if kept alive and able to thrive, bonsai trees can out-live those who care for them. The Erloom pot was created to parallel this transformation through time, not only through its resilience, but also through visual change. Creating an understated form that emphasizes the natural beauty of the bonsai placed within.
Erloom pots are fiber-laser cut from 11ga hot rolled steel, sanded to remove excess material leftover from the cutting process, and finished by hand. Through the specific joinery pattern, each side of the pot slide together and interlock, further fusing together through patina. This makes the pots highly durable, with the weight of the material helping to ground certain styles of bonsai, such as Kengai.