Hafele Nylon Wall Hooks

Buy It Here for $33

Very recently our local gallery, Blunk Space, opened a fantastic show of 100 different hooks, all of which were one-offs produced by artists. A joyous banquet for the eyes, the show reminded me that hooks are an ideal instrument to play out some visual jazz on a surface.

Some hooks hang their hats on the simplicity of their design or the honesty of their materials: cast bronze hooks are eternally classy fixtures that will continue to patina long past your current incarnation. Hooks can also boast ingenuity, craftsmanship or found-object sensibility. A visit to the Hancock Shaker Village this past summer revealed that simple wooden pegs are timeless in their appeal and better by the dozens.

In addition to calling this inspiring art show to your attention, this post serves to introduce you to one of my favorite producers of utilitarian household accoutrements, Hafle. Hafle was founded in Germany in 1923 as a manufacturer of specialty joinery needs and products for the hardware and tool industry.Over time, the company worked innovatively with designers and artisans to create specialty products to further enhance their craft.Halfe started doing business in the states in 1973 with a beautiful catalog offering 25,000 furniture fittings.

Today, the majority of the company’s products are small, well-designed components that make drawers, doors and cabinets move smoothly and furniture move and function in new ways that innovation requires. My favorite pieces in their catalog are the colorful nylon fittings such as hooks, drawer pulls, toilet paper holders and door knobs. 

Specifically, these hooks really excite me - they seem like alien creatures or Ron Nagel sculptures come to life. They are not necessarily cheap, but Hafle’s quality is always superb and its functionality never disappointing. Most items are still manufactured in Germany.

I will delight in sharing more of their offerings in the future but thought I might get you hooked on these first.