MATERIAL /
Anodized aluminium | Other materials and finishes on request.
DIMENSION /
Door handle 135 x 38 x H 50 mm.
Door and furniture knobs D 68 mm, D 38 mm, D 28 mm, D 18 mm.
Wall coat hangers hooks D 68 mm, D 38 mm, D 28 mm, D 18 mm.
Floor door wedge / Door stop D 68 mm.
DESIGN /
Jean-François D'Or.
EDITION /
Edited by Vervloet | Produced and distributed by Vervloet.
PRICE /
Contact us to get prices and delivery time.
AWARD /
Maison & Objet Paris 2017 | Best fair product award.
Pictures © Stéphanie Derouaux.
Page 6 © Thomas Grünfeld. Misfit (fox-terrier/fox/deer, 1996).
When I am looking for new concept, such as door handle by example, I usually play with existing old objects; creating a kind of inventory moodboard. Coincidentally, I had an old wooden tobacco pipe from my Grand-Father in my hands and the more I looked at it, the more I was convinced that this could be an excellent comfortable door handle.
Its comes then as an evidence, I’ve tried on a door without handle within my design studio, and its works quiet well. Too easy ?! Nevertheless, perfectly ergonomic, comfortable and soft within the hand. I did directly notice a technical part that will be interesting: no need of that visible rosette between door and door handle. Indeed, the volume of the pipe object could include this rosette inside and thus becomes no visible. This object will be just like a comma on the punctuation of the doors.
I was then very scary that this object will be identify as it is: a smoking pipe on a door. Very frightened of that first degree level of concept; quiet poor and anecdotic. Nevertheless, I kept liking this obvious Ready made. I had to wait until the pictures shooting to get the answer on that scary first degree. Within a chosen architecture, we’ve fixed few of those door handles on existing doors for pictures. Many people crossed the places and none of them stop and said Oh funny those smoking pipe on door. Reassured, this collection could start its life.
Of course, this was not that easy, for many reasons. First of all, researching perfect proportions to get perfect ergonomics and technical fitting on door. Then, realize the 3D file and construction of that object in those good proportions and dimensions, just like designing my own smoking pipe, sorry, door handle. Come now the long research on technical solutions and suppliers until the perfect balance. Long road…
This collection exist in brass material and can be satin or hand polished-mirror. From this material many different kind of bath allows to get different surfaces finishing as chrome, nickel, silver, gold, copper, pink gold,… I also wanted to introduce a new material into the Maison Vervloet mood: anodized aluminium. I did bring the mat black anodized aluminium to Vervloet for this humble aspect, very soft touch and deeply mat black as alternative that architecture will introduce. I did that first for the AUDREY collection, and its works very well. We did it also for this new “René” collection, but I wanted more and suggest to try this magic electric mat blue anodized aluminium. Vervloet people though I was quiet mad and crazy, I know, so do I. Blue, nothing but blue, it is only just like a tiny comma on the punctuation of the doors.
Again, there is no surrealism purpose on that handle concept. The press people rushed on it as: Belgian surrealism design or Ceci n’est pas une pipe, Ceci n’est pas une poignée. I really would like to leave René Magritte in peace, and not using his art on commercial aspect and effect as it has been done too many time here in Belgium. I do deeply appreciate his painting and mind, so do I for surrealism movement.
Nevertheless, and very honestly, it was not the goal and intentions on that object. This is the reason why I do call this collection on my website Welcome home and not René; with a huge respect for this artist.