The visual aesthetics of Hermès’ creations for the home, presented at Milan Design Week 2023, are drawn from a form of archaism and minimalism. The very staging of the event seems to scorn all excess, presenting a geometric framework composed of iron rods and concrete, resulting in an interplay of grid and lines.
For the furniture presented, strength is revealed through removal, and clarity is obtained through subtraction. Know-how is demonstrated through exceptional elements: blown glass for the minimalist lamps, traditional upholstery for the simple, refined chair, and virtuoso hand embroidery for the rugs.
A preference for organic materials is in evidence by the use of bronze, glass, wood and leather, showcased in their most elemental manifestations. The muted colours play their part in expressing motifs that pay tribute to the house’s heritage, as do equestrian references on the rugs and blankets.
ARMCHAIR – ANCELLE D’HERMÈS
Conceived by Danish designer Cecilie Manz, the Ancelle d’Hermès armchair is compellingly direct. Its powerful frame in solid wood is combined with a sheet of leather that creates a light and elegant seat. Heir to a Scandinavian tradition that merges robustness with minimalism, this armchair offers an elegant, structured look.
SOFA – CONTOUR D’HERMÈS
Archetypal, timeless and inviting, the Contour d’Hermès sofa puts textiles in the limelight. Upholstered in a wool and cotton slub canvas, it features discreet references to Hermès’ leather-crafting heritage. The buttons that punctuate the cushioned backrest and the piping that emphasizes its lines are in leather. The legs hidden under the fabric are also leather sheathed and burnished.
CHAIR – CONSERVATOIRE
A chair with an angular, geometric look, sheathed in leather by Hermès in the 1930s, inspired Jasper Morrison to reinterpret it with a light touch. By making the legs slimmer and revising its proportions, the designer has imbued it with modernity. The exceptional leather sheathing of the seat and backrest were faithfully replicated, as was the glossy, glazed heritage leather developed for this creation. The result is a fusion of history, know-how and contemporary attitude.
RUG – CORDÉLIE ARÇON
Pommel horses, fence poles, race tracks and horses’ heads are displayed on these new rug offerings in designs by Pierre Charpin. In an interplay of graphic lines and emblematic colours, the rugs demonstrate the Cordélie cording technique, creating material effects through the precise placement of a cotton cord embroidered onto a linen base. Hand-embroidered, this textile signature is unique to Hermès.
PLAID – CASAQU’ÉCHIQUIER
Inspired by the house’s archives, the motifs on the cashmere plaids represent jockeys’ silks embroidered together in colourful contrasting yarns that intermingle to create a unique pattern. They are hand-spun and hand-woven, using multiple shuttles or the ikat technique depending on the model. Exceptional craftsmanship is combined with a meticulous blend of graphics, assembly and bold colours.
LAMP – SOUFFLE D’HERMÈS
The Souffle d’Hermès lamps, by Finnish designer Harri Koskinen, explore the material nature of glass. They are equally fascinating whether switched on or off. They fulfil a function, assert their familiarity and transparency, and embody simplicity and strength. In blackcurrant, fern or burnt orange, these lamps express the magic of the glass blower’s art.
