Hermès is proving its equestrian heritage is more than just table talk, placing it front and centre in the new Tressages Equestres collection. Designed by artist Virginie Jamin and curated by Benoit Pierre Emery, creative director of La Table Hermès, the Hermès Tressages Equestres tableware collection comprises 27 pieces and spans flatware and hollowware, catering to a diverse array of global cuisines.
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‘In the world of horses, plaiting is ubiquitous,’ says Jamin of the collection. ‘Functional, sometimes invisible like the strap that goes under the horse’s belly to maintain the saddle. This service pays homage to the artisan’s hand that sublimes any material.”
The collection is executed in porcelain and sees a kaolin white background act as a canvas for a braided motif that draws inspiration from the braiding and passementerie used in equestrian harnesses; a nod to the maison’s origins as a harness workshop during the 19th century. Elevated beyond mere functionality into works of art, each piece of tableware boasts a sense of fluidity of form, with the motifs combining into abstract patterns. A colour palette of petrol blue, lemon yellow, and mint green is paired with natural shades inspired by leather and fibres; representing those used by horse and rider as well as those that are spun by the hands of artisans.
Each piece utilises a different scale, with fine and dense lines working to create aesthetic interest and spatial harmony. Together, the balanced collection exudes visual harmony, allowing pieces to be mixed and matched depending on the cuisine being served. The collection was presented in Paris with a kinetic mechanical display that saw plates and bowls rotated like cogs on a wheel with multicoloured threads stretched between them, showcasing the braided motifs at work.
Words by Henry Blake
