Tulip

About The Entry

Tulip is a turned cork and hardwood bud vase that asks what happens when material, process, and form are treated as inseparable. Designed to complement any flower or stem, the vase is named after the shape of a tulip but pairs well with any and all flowers.

Designed by Prerna Sharma, the bud vase began as an ideation process, sketching a wide range of forms to arrive at a single object that felt complete. The design draws from a broader family of vessels including a centerpiece and planter, but the bud vase is the collection's most refined expression: slender, and quietly present.

The piece combines cork with maple, chosen for its complementary grain and cool tone against cork's warm, matte surface. After developing 3D renders to assess form and proportion, the process moved into making. The vessel is constructed by laminating the wood, then turning it on a lathe to produce the smooth, rounded contours of the body. Tulip is shaped by hand and tool rather than mold or machine.

Cork is the defining material. Tangibly distinct from ceramic or glass, it brings an organic quiet to a space. At 12 inches tall and 6 inches in diameter, the bud vase has a presence that is confident without being imposing- tall enough to anchor a surface, slender enough to hold a single stem with intention.

A removable glass insert sits inside the vessel to hold water and allow for straightforward cleaning, resolving the tension between natural material and functional use. The cork exterior stays pristine over time while the piece remains practical to use.