Looking like a ray gun from an early sci-fi serial, Loewy’s prototype pencil sharpener has been an icon for decades, memorialized (as depicted in the stamp above) as a teardrop-shaped catalyst for streamlined industrial design.

Duroplast Single Pencil Sharpener These pencil sharpeners are made by DUX, the oldest German brand for high quality pencil sharpeners, established in 1908 and continuing production in Geretsried, Bavaria. Made from blocks of Duroplast (Bakelite). Duroplast was the material used to produce the body of the Trabant peoples car, manufactured in East Germany until the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Pencil Sharpener Ring by Monika Wyndham “MWRing” $225.00 for one "Over the summer I met Monika for the first time at a coffee shop in Brooklyn. Among other things, I asked her to be in a show we were curating at the time for SoHO's Partners & Spade. She said sure, and that she wanted to do a ring. She had not only never cast anything before, but she also had just two months to whip something up. What a champ. When I finally saw the finished ring, I was floored that she was able to develop such a perfect piece in so little time. These rings are fully functional, shiny silver and real heavy. Monika is the type of artist that will be making very strong work for a very long time. If you do purchase this ring, consider it an investment. I have no doubt that its value will increase once the world takes notice of the killer stuff that pops out of this woman's head."

Sunlight streams through formerly boarded-up windows in the living area that was once Madame Wong’s stage. “When we took off the drywall, we realized there were windows in there. So we had more made to match these four,” says Dan. The new windows open up the east side of the building to views of the courtyard below and the San Gabriel mountains in the distance. The apartment is furnished with an eclectic mix of furniture, including an Eero Saarinen womb chair.

The Wish List at the Victoria and Albert Museum (September 13-21) Consider it a fringe benefit of being part of the design cognoscenti. This quirky group exhibition, sponsored by Benchmark and the American Hardwood Export Council, asked famous designers and architects such as Zaha Hadid and Paul Smith to put in a request for a personal object, which would then be created by an up-and-comer. The spherical pencil sharpener, above, is Norie Matsumoto's attempt to spruce up Norman Foster's workspace.

Fernando Wong’s master bath brings the outdoors in with bold wallpaper.

The charred-wood facade on Silping Wong and Jon Friesen’s house in western Canada was hand-done by Jon and his father. They used Douglas fir, a thick, corky wood that is local to the region.

Pollen Architecture residence at 4502 Balcones Drive in Austin, TX 78731 designed by Elizabeth Alford and Michael Young

Scene Shang designed the dining room’s pendants. "They have very simple, geometric shapes inspired by Chinese lanterns, and the black-and-white palette, while influenced by traditional Chinese design, is simplified, a bit more free in shape and localized with rattan," says co-founder and designer Jessica Wong.

In Case by Materious. A briefcase that conceals a paper shredder for the corrupt businessman.

in a loft in L.A.'s Chinatown, Moe and Lewis play in their shared bedroom, the former Madame Wong’s kitchen. “It’s just so fun for them to live in a funny place like this,” says Amy. “Their friends love to come over and play.”

Residence and Atelier of Patrick Y Wong Copyright Case # 1-266025680 Filed October 27, 2009

Shredder Building. Says Olic,

The 510 Cabin is one of Leggitt's designs, executed with the help of student apprentices.

Residence and Atelier of Patrick Y Wong Copyright Case # 1-266025680 Filed October 27, 2009

Minh Le Tien and Emylia Safian (left) stand at the gate to their unorthodox new home in Singapore. Designed by architect Ling Hao, the multilevel steel-and-concrete structure is wrapped in unbridled greenery and connects seamlessly with the outdoors.

Artist Ling Meng studies natural, mathematical, and scientific themes in her work.

The cover of Murakami Versailles.

The sunken seating allows flexible use. "We tried to create distinct spatial qualities from one room to another by focusing or increasing a certain function or maximizing the potential of the rooms based on their location," says Wong.

Illustration for Ling magazine.

In the covered cabana area by the pool, a hand-painted mural by Brendan “The Blob” Monroe creates a funky backdrop that's inspired by the flow of water. Local artist, illustrator, and curator Jasper Wong co-curated the mural artwork found throughout the property.

...which includes a functional built-in blender and an interchangeable knife sharpener attachment.

More illustrations for Ling magazine.

Pendant by Matthew Fairbank Design.

Clock by Ding3000 for Discipline.

The structure of the coop was inspired by the new bus shelters and newsstands in New York City.

The elemental quality and gridded composition of resident Diana Wong’s art is reflected in the curtain wall of the front façade of the Wong Residence and Studio by Paul Murdoch Architects.

Dogtrot Interior View

Kitchen designed by Cottam Hargrave for Patrick Y Wong of Atelier Wong Photography

2nd Floor Bathroom Designed by Cottam Hargrave for Patrick Y Wong of Atelier Wong Photography

William Lamson's Solarium.

Tobias Wong, Protect Me From What I Want, 2002; artist tattoo; © Estate of Tobias Wong. Photo courtesy SFMOMA.

Shanghai-born Licheng Ling is the founder of luxury loungewear brand Homeism,

We loved the Kastor pencil sharpener by Rodrigo Torres, the designer who created Alessi's Chip paper clip holder.

Dong-Ping Wong’s Instagram post from June 4th urges BIPOC creatives to add to the growing list.

Dong-Ping Wong’s Instagram post from June 4 urges BIPOC creatives to add to the growing list.