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Considering that Brett Swope's "Oblique" was Kickstarted in less than 24 hours, there's no need to sell the product here... but let's just consider it an addendum to our Ultimate Gift Guide (a companion to Cristalino, perhaps) in the interest of sharing abrilliantmodern update on a classic design object.Oblique is a wine bottle holder that is precision machined from 6061 Aluminum that holds the bottle horizontally such that the center of mass is roughly above the middle of the footprint of the holder. Thus, the bottle and holder are co-dependent on one another. The design is a result of the 'balance' between the CNC milling machine process considerations, efficient material use, shipping constraints, aesthetics, and cost. Oblique is designed in California and manufactured in Minnesota.
It's more practical than, say, William Lee & et al collective's "Lean", perhaps even more so than Beverly Moon's ultraminimal contact case, yet the form remains remarkably pure, a monolith in miniature, perfectly calibrated for its purpose... all without electromagnets.
True to his background in engineering, San Francisco-based Swope offers a ton of manufacturing details and specs, courtesy of his friend and business partner Greg Suski, on this Kickstarter page. Fun fact: the "Oblique" is made from the same type of aircraft-grade aluminum that Aaron Panone uses for his 144#47 track chainring.
There's no video, so you'll just have to believe the hype pictures until the "Oblique" ships (just in time for Christmas)... you've got 12 days to pull the trigger.
Ray is a writer, editor, and researcher
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Webinar
Gravity Goes Minimal: Revel in the "Oblique" Cantilever Wine Bottle Holder
http://leechesson.com/Bottleholders/Wine_Bottle_Holder.htm
http://tgaspard.blogspot.com/2008/10/suspended-wine-holder.html
http://www.seomagic-usa.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21/products_id/689
http://www.alibaba.com/product-free/105274346/Wooden_Wine_Bottle_Holders.html
http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/443802852/acrylic_balancing_bottle_holder.html
http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/473420115/clear_acrylic_wine_bottle_holder.html
http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/335247155/customized_balancer_acrylic_wine_display_holder.html
http://www.amazon.com/Counter-Balance-Wine-Bottle-Holder/dp/B004D503V4
http://www.ehow.com/how_5439404_make-balancing-wine-holder.html
http://www.amazon.com/Gold-Vino-Balancing-Wine-Holder/dp/B003GE8F1I
I think you get the point...
Product Tank: I like to think of criticism as constructive, so I'll do my best to defend myself at risk of further aspersions:
1.) The "Revel" in the title is a vestige of an initial attempt at wordplay on "CantiLEVER"-- i.e. "Can't I Revel..." Fail acknowledged. (Ken K's pun is better anyway.)
2.) While the leaning chair is a stretch, the contact case is simply another minimal DIY product design on KS and I figured that they might appeal to the same audience. I guess not.
3.) 100+ backers believe it; non-believers are more than welcome to continue sounding off in the comments.
(Maybe I'm better off just posting the pictures sans bombastic copy, like certain other design blogs...)
Secondly you then go on to try and claim that it is more functional than a leaning shape and a contact lens case. They are completely unrelated. Is it as functional as a wine rack, or just laying your bottle of wine on the floor?
Thirdly - there's no video! so we'll just have to believe the hype!
However, I do enjoy the precise and cold simplicity of the "Oblique".