Paris, France, January 2013 — The celebrated, iconoclastic designer Ora-Ïto continues his collaboration with Christofle and reiterates his attachment to the silversmith’s art through a new line of furniture. This project follows a trio of collaborations: having tackled the challenge of designing silverware (“Recto Verso”, 2008) and infused the House’s fledgling jewelry collections with a fresh spirit (“Abstract’Ito”, 2008), Ora-Ïto then explored home décor by creating his first ‘art de vivre’ collection, “Arborescence”, which today has become one of the House’s most recognizable aesthetic signatures.
In 2011, this collection expanded to include new pieces while remaining true to the designer’s original approach of blending linearity and curves. These new creations included a 21-light centerpiece in silver plate, a floor lamp with geometric lines and opal-colored polyphane lampshades, and a pedestal table with stylized tree legs. In keeping with his philosophy of “simplexity”, the designer creates complex objects of apparent simplicity; these are the hallmark of his savoir-faire.
Inspired by Christofle’s roots and the House’s DNA, Ora-Ïto’s “Arborescence” is the fruit of a marriage between traditional archetypes, refinement and rigor. This line perfectly incorporates House codes (purity, elegance, materials) while creating a bold new signature that transcends the substance itself: its fluid, organically inspired lines approach geometric abstraction.
In 2013, candelabras and steel furniture will round out the collection. These include an end table, a coffee table, a console and a dining table in limited edition. While keeping the silversmith’s tradition of furniture making in mind, Ora-Ïto offers a contemporary take on metal furniture. “Arborescence” seals Christofle’s approach to new materials: in this instance, steel offers design lovers both modernity and comfort of use. It puts a unique stamp on the House’s lifestyle collections and asserts itself as the Christofle icon for today.