The Hidden Detail: Hermès’ New Tableware Collection Combines Classic Elegance With A Modern Twist

Designed by Benoît-Pierre Emery and artist Virginie Jamin, Hermès’ new tableware collection is a love letter to the maison’s roots, its signature artisanship and passion for the arts

Inspired by the passementerie and braiding used in the harness-making that lies at the house’s very origins, Hermès’ new tableware collection, Tressages Equestres, is designed to complement global cuisines.

Under the artistic direction of Benoît-Pierre Emery, Creative Director of La Table Hermès, each of the 27 pieces – including ten new hollow-ware pieces – offer a subtle mix of figurative and abstract representations.

Designed by artist and long-time friend of the maison, Virginie Jamin, who is also behind some of Hermès’ iconic scarves, the tableware is defined by the precision of her lines – fine and dense – with the omnipresent kaolin white of the porcelain providing a perfect backdrop for them. “I think Virginie has this ability to translate very classical elements and interpret them in a very modern, graphic way,” says Benoît-Pierre, who designed his very first tableware for Hermès in 2007.

“She has this ability to transform things and make them come alive.” The boundary between art and craftsmanship has long been explored by the maison, honouring different sensitivities, ways of expressions and artistic capabilities. Tressages Equestres brings the universes of art and design together; “and when the two meet, they produce magic,” Benoît- Pierre enthuses.

The zesty colours of lemon and mint contrast with petrol blue and the natural shades of fibres and leather, bringing a bold twist to a classic palette. The motifs differ from one piece to the next, and each combination of objects is balanced.

The collection is all about the details – the complexity of the lines creates an almost mathematical, geometric structure when viewed closely, and when seen from afar, an abstract work of art.

Benoît-Pierre reveals the creative inspiration behind the collection: “We were exploring some saddle pieces from the past, and we saw this beautiful belt made out of cotton. We thought it was so well-crafted. It was perfectly made with a lot of details, a lot of care. What’s wonderful about this is it’s an invisible element because it’s placed under the horse, it’s an element that keeps the saddle straight, and so it’s a very important part of the equestrian world because it gives security to the horse rider. It’s something that you don’t see, but which has been done with so much care, with so much attention and with so much beauty”.

This ‘hidden detail’, which resides within the beating heart of Hermès’ philosophy, became a starting point for the tableware.

With each piece exuding its own beauty while also being able to complement the next, Benoît-Pierre likens the collection to building a puzzle. “You have to make every piece fit,” he smiles. “And slowly, it all comes together.” Magic accomplished.

Images Courtesy of Hermès

From the Winter 2024 issue of Harper’s Bazaar Interiors.