Chimes edition II

Swarf Hardware is pleased to present the second edition of our wind chime collection. Following 2021’s  collaboration with artist and designer Yuri Suzuki, this year enlists the talents of award-winning graphic designer Matt Willey, who came up with the composition and colour scheme for the paper tails.

A celebration of the analogue and a modern take on traditional Japanese wind bells, the wind chimes create a gentle, soothing sound with the aim of offering a daily moment of auditory delight. 

As with all Swarf designs, the bells are made entirely in the UK; the brass bells are spun at a workshop in Essex, while the tails are laser-cut from paper by British paper specialist G.F. Smith. With sustainability a key consideration in all that we do, we chose G.F. Smith’s Extract paper, which is made from disposable paper coffee cups. We have also waxed the tails to give some protection from outdoor environments. Meanwhile, making the additional components, machining, finishing and assembly takes place at our Norfolk workshop. Finally, each wind chime is threaded with Japanese-made waxed cord for hanging.

Care instructions

The brass bells have been finished with a coat of wax to help slow down the oxidation process, but we have deliberately chosen to leave the brass in its natural state, so that it develops a gentle patina over time. We think it adds a lovely character to the bells, and also means we can avoid synthetic varnishes or clear-coats. The bells can be cleaned with a brass cleaner (Brasso for example) to retain its original bright finish, if desired. Each paper shape has also been waxed to help protect it from outdoor environments, but please be aware that they are not waterproof, so we recommend moving the bell inside in wet weather.