Alessi Twergi ES19 grinder, red

Alessi’s ES19 grinder from the Twergi collection is an extraordinarily expressive kitchen tool created by the legendary Italian designer Ettore Sottsass. Shaped like a small totem, the beechwood spice grinder has a high-quality mechanism for grinding salt, pepper and other spices. And when not in use, this medium-sized salt and pepper mill adds a delightful pop of color to the kitchen or table setting.

First launched in 1989, Alessi’s Twergi collection consists of wooden objects inspired by the ancient tradition of woodturning. In Italy’s woodwork-famous Strona Valley, the word “twergi” is local dialect for “elf”. Elves were believed to be both mischief-makers and teachers, for example, in the craft of woodworking. The Twergi collection is manufactured in Italy, with some parts crafted by hand on a lathe.