With most people having spent an inordinate amount of time indoors over the past two years, the home has truly become the centre of our universe. And while it might sound counterintuitive, that is exactly why artistic directors of Hermes Maison, Charlotte Macaux Perelman and Alexis Fabry, decided to showcase a smaller collection than usual.
Speaking to us during a video walkthrough broadcast live from the Salone del Mobile in Milan, Fabry shared why the team decided to have a particularly tight edit: “This year, we decided to show fewer things. The idea was that every object we wanted to show had to deserve the attention we put into creating it.”
Added Macaux Perelman, “More than ever, everybody feels that home — how it feels, and its atmosphere — is important.” With the pandemic creating a sense of remoteness for many, physicality and texture were the focus of this collection. The pieces were made of raw, natural materials, brought to refined life by exceptional craftsmanship and graphic lines. Here are a few highlights you might want to cosy up your own maison with.
01: Sillage d’Hermes armchair
From afar, this piece of furniture looks like a slatted wooden armchair. Designed by architects at Studio Mumbai, the Sillage d’Hermes armchair is actually a beechwood structure clad in a compound that contains cellulose microfibres from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)-certified forests. The compound is made in Puglia, Italy, where papier mache was first created in the 16th century. The lines on the generously sized seat (measuring 96 x 69 x 86cm) are painted by hand, which means each piece is unique — just like its design.
02: Chromatic baskets
Boldly mixing saturated colours and textures, the Chromatic baskets will enliven any nook in a home. Available in three colourways, the baskets are made from leather and woven natural wicker.
03: Quilted cashmere bed covers
Hermes doesn’t just have a way with colour. With its latest collection of quilted bed covers, it demonstrates how even objects that are pure white can make an irresistibly striking statement. Using golden thread, American artist Carson Converse has embroidered graphic designs by Italian artist Gianpaolo Pagni on snowy cashmere. The three designs are named New Haven, Fall River and Williamstown, a nod to cities in the US synonymous with quilting as an artform.
04: Equilibre suite
Created by English industrial designer Jasper Morrison, the Equilibre suite includes a chair, armchair and table inspired by the minimalist lines of his La Tourette chair. As with most masterfully executed designs, these natural-oak pieces look deceptively simple. But a closer look, or actually taking a seat at the table, gives away the complex details: The tabletop is carefully bevelled, the legs are slanted just so, crisp corners on the outside are gently rounded on the inside, slatted chair backs are crafted from one piece of wood, and seats feature apertures perfectly sized for a comfy saddle-stitched leather pad.
05: Hippomobile porcelain set
Inspired by an equestrian engraving in the Emile Hermes collection, artist Giapaolo Pagni designed the visuals on the Hippomobile porcelain service. The prints of jockey silks have been translated into vibrant graphic friezes that dress a horse, sometimes stretching across three plates. These delightful elements are also found on items such as coffe cups, teapots and a sugar bowl. Teatime just became a lot more fun.
