The greatest hero during his childhood is his grandfather. He was a village blacksmith and farmer. Michael von Mücke decided early on that he wanted to do exactly the same thing as his grandfather.
He learns the trade of blacksmith from Martin Breidenbach in Peiting, who also unleashes in him an interest in contemporary metal design. After his apprenticeship, he undertakes further training in the field of horse shoeing. On the one hand, this awakens his love for horses, but on the other hand, he also realizes that he will not become the kind of blacksmith his grandfather was. Michael decides to study at the Academy of Design at the Chamber of Crafts in Munich. During his studies he discovers for himself the process of designing and the attraction of experimenting. These journeys of discovery are still the inner driving force and source of his creative work today. Thereby traditional cultural heritage and its translation into the contemporary. Be it in music or as a designer.
He has been making music with his bandmates from Kofelgschroa since childhood. Between 2012 and 2017 he pursues music making full time and tours bring him as far as the USA and Peru. In the creative field, everything revolves around the theme of “table and table culture” for the native of Oberammergau. He playfully develops new ideas and produces furniture, objects and utensils with perfect craftsmanship. Together with fellow designers Lukas Gruber and Jonas Kraus, he produces the Rumms collection. Their best-seller is a nutcracker, which was initially produced by hand and is now going into series production.
His latest project, Uldri, is also about table culture, with the theme of agriculture coming into play again. On an old farm in Pfaffenwinkel, which he is currently renovating collectively with his brother and his brother’s girlfriend, they are setting up a farm with goats, while he is building his blacksmith’s shop with adjoining studio apartment in an outbuilding. In the near future, there will be small cultural events there, where everything honestly produced on the farm will be served and framed by music. With this, Michael is realizing his vision of a place where he can bring his three passions of design, sustainable agriculture, and music to life in harmony.
Text: Christian Wander
JOURNAL. What you might want to know…
Doing something by hand can change a lot. Buying something handmade out of conviction can do the same. It changes – or has already changed – the way we think. Especially when it comes to our food. What do we buy? Who made it? What can we perhaps grow ourselves? How do our actions and decisions change, first ourselves, then our purchases, then the landscape?
Every sourdough – that culture of lactic acid bacteria and yeast in a mixture of flour and water – is unique, like a fingerprint, because in every region there are individual bacteria in the air that give each loaf its very own flavour. One person who knows more about the infinite variety of sourdough cultures than most – whose culture is culture, so to speak – is the Belgian Karl De Smedt, keeper and archivist of Europe’s only sourdough library.
It’s virtually impossible to miss Julius Brantner Brothandwerk if you’re a fan of baked goods and find yourself in Munich. The charming Swabian baker has recently opened his second location, the first being such a success. With his team working transparently behind large glass windows, Julius strives to make “honest and trustworthy handling of all ingredients and processes accessible,” he says. Unsurprisingly, locals and tourists flock to the shopfront to sample their aromatic bread and delectable treats.
SHOP. Our latest releases….
FINDER. Find your maker…
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Carl Hansen & Søn’s furniture reflects 110 years of craftsmanship. The iconic Wishbone Chair by Wegner is a standout piece, requiring three weeks and over 100 steps to meticulously assemble...
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Carl Hansen & Søn’s furniture reflects 110 years of craftsmanship. The iconic Wishbone Chair by Wegner is a standout piece, requiring three weeks and over 100 steps to meticulously assemble its 14 parts.
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Linen Tales, a family business from Vilnius, merges tradition with modernity in their linen textiles, creating practical yet stunning designs. With a commitment to sustainability and exceptional quality, their versatile...
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Linen Tales, a family business from Vilnius, merges tradition with modernity in their linen textiles, creating practical yet stunning designs. With a commitment to sustainability and exceptional quality, their versatile collection transcends seasons, reflecting personal style and promoting conscious consumption.
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Florian Pichler and Luca Distler of Messer Werk Aschau are master bladesmiths specializing in crafting utility knives from Damascus steel. Their meticulous process and bespoke designs produce high-performance, sought-after knives...
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Florian Pichler and Luca Distler of Messer Werk Aschau are master bladesmiths specializing in crafting utility knives from Damascus steel. Their meticulous process and bespoke designs produce high-performance, sought-after knives with stunning Damascus patterns. Each knife comes with a lifelong
Makers Bible Crafting Cuisine inspires those who love to spend time in the kitchen, cook with hand and heart, try new things and celebrate a
Martin Schönleitner is one of 17 fishermen at Lake Chiemsee. Together with wife Verena Stephan they both run Chiemseefischerei Stephan, a family business for 400 years. Their ancestors had started their venture at Lake Constance. For three generations (at the present site) the Stepahn family lives and fishes at Lake Chiemsee, Prien am Chiemsee to be precise.
The tailor-made suit is still considered the highest-quality and most individual version of the garment. German men’s tailors work in the awareness of covering a particularly wide range of the demands their profession places on them.
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