I wrote about The Unnamed Society and their Jim Bowie Project (Curated by French Maker Tashi Bharucha) in the December 2022 Knife News column, and the knives were represented in our Artistry in Knives centerspread that month.
Here is what I had to say back then…
Unnamed Society commissions Jim Bowie Project
By design, the folks behind “The Unnamed Society” maintain a somewhat opaque public front. Their motto, “Creating the impossible that defies imagination,” is of only slight assistance in illuminating who they are and what they do. Founded in 2019 in Switzerland, The Unnamed Society is a collection of inventors, designers, and artisans who curate ultra-exclusive collections of objets d’art.
With a background in fine watches, their initial projects included reimagining both a Colt Revolver and Winchester rifle, and converting them into a series of one-of-a-kind precision timepieces. Their latest work, titled the Jim Bowie Project, seeks to make “a worthy tribute to the Art of Knife Making, through the icon of icons in the knife universe”, the bowie knife.
The collection is curated by French Knifemaker Tashi Bharucha, who together with 24 other select makers from more than a dozen countries, created the ultimate collection of modern art bowies. The parameters were simple: to create “an unprecedented collection of 50 knives, each one reflecting the knife maker’s personal style, technique and metal affinity, yet all would follow a specific design for the blade’s silhouette, inspired by the legendary Bowie design, as imagined by Tashi.”
Once the overall profile was set, the makers were free to let their imaginations run wild. They could utilize any materials they wished, Damascus steel, san mai, exotic woods to whale ivory, even meteorite. Likewise, the construction techniques could range from integral handles to hidden tangs and everything in between.
Of course, knives this special need a sheath of equal quality. Each sheath is a bespoke creation, a piece of art itself, and meant to be the perfect compliment to its individual knife. To this end Tashi enlisted the help of Jeremy Guillaume, a master sheath maker based in Lille, France.
“When Jeremy Guillaume agreed to participate in The Jim Bowie Project, it was icing on the cake,” says Bharucha. “Jeremy is known not only for his absolute mastery of the full range of hides and materials, but also, and perhaps especially, for his uncanny sensibility in combining textures, colours and techniques to express, even amplify, the character of the object that his sheath protects.”
The initial plan is to seek a single collector to purchase the entire assemblage, lock, stock, and barrel. To facilitate this, The Unnamed Society has commissioned a handmade wooden display trunk worthy of housing such a collection. If they are unable to secure the right investor, they will sell the knives individually, by appointment only.
If a reader is interested in finding out more about the Jim Bowie Project, or The Unnamed Society in general, visit www.theunnamedsociety.com. If you are in the market for one of these unique creations, contact [email protected], where arrangements can be made privately.
Now The Unnamed Society is back with a project that returns back to their timepiece roots, The Champion desktop timepiece is inspired by the sport that Europeans call “Football”, but is more appropriately known as soccer.
From The Unnamed Society:
Caliber ONE – IN-HOUSE HAUTE HORLOGERIE CLOCK CALIBER
This 205-component mechanical manufacture movement was imagined and designed entirely in-house – 100% Swiss Made from idea to construction to finishing, Caliber ONE was bespoke-developed and engineered specifically for integration into the geodesic sphere created for The Champion concept.
The time, told in jumping hours and trailing minutes, is read from two discs at 6 o’clock. The clockwork, self-adjusting with a play compensation system, is manually set and wound with a square key winder. The power reserve is 155 hours. The layered depth brings out the caliber’s centerpiece, the screw balance wheel framed by elegant hand-beveled and dynamic bridges.
TIMEKEEPER AND KEEPER OF A TIMELESS SPIRIT
Time is displayed with two rotating discs, one for the hours, the other for the minutes. The power reserve of seven days is sufficient to make winding a welcome excuse for playtime. The tempered glass allows a splendid view of the mechanism; it also serves as miniature football pitch. The goal, players and penalty kick mechanism are 3D-printed in grade 3 titanium, combining joyful simplicity with robustness. The Champion offers a constant interplay of history and high-tech in the world of watchmaking.
Nomination at the Grand Prix de l’Horlogerie de Genève 2023
The Unnamed Society’s masterpiece, The Champion Macassar, takes the spotlight as a finalist in the Mechanical Clock category at this year’s GPHG. Crafted with precision and a touch of playfulness, this 100% Swiss Made Haute Horlogerie concept conceals a horological surprise within its visually striking geodesic sphere, mirroring an official football.
A timeless work of art. An ode to The Beautiful Game.
Meet The Champion, where Haute Horlogerie meets the heart of football.
I know this isn’t “knife” content per se, but there was the bowie tie-in. Plus, it is both an objet d’art and exquisite piece of machining.
Read more at TheUnnamedSociety.com
Read the full article here