Afterglow

Michele De Lucchi and Yann Kersalé 

Beauty, tradition and unparalleled craftsmanship; from buttery soft leather saddles to the highly coveted Birkins, Hermès’ dedication to its core values transcends generations. And at this year’s Salone del Mobile in Milan, the 178-year-old French luxury maison focused the spotlight on its debut lighting collection Hermès en Lumière, in line with its theme of urban wandering this year, Flâneur Forever. 

Created in collaboration with Italian designer Michele De Lucchi (known for his iconic Tolomeo lamp) and French visual artist Yann Kersalé, the collection comprises a series of clean-cut lamps sheathed in leather with Hermès’ signature saddle stitch.

Paying homage to Hermès’ equestrian heritage, De Lucchi’s Pantographe and Harnais ranges of light fixtures are slender, sleek and elegant—much like how equestrians ride seamlessly as one with their horses. 

Christened Liseuse de parquet (with Lampadaire Arche in a larger size) and Lampe de travail, Pantogaphe bears a similar design element: long spindly adjustable arms that create optimal lighting effects. Drawing inspiration from telescopic plotters used by architecture sketchers, De Lucchi conceived the desk lamp to flex along different joints, like a human arm.

In line with Hermès’ dedication to the aesthetics, De Lucchi ensured that the Pantographe’s beauty is unparalleled. “The devil is in the detail: the base comes in the shape of a tray with accessories, and the wires are all covered with leather,” says the award-winning artist. 

The finesse of savoir faire sums up De Lucchi’s next collection, Harnais. With distinct influences from elements of nature, Lampe de chevet (with Lampe de table as a slightly larger version) and Lampadaire sport opaline shades supported by three leather stems. In another reference to the equestrian world, the three stems that connect the base to the shade of the Harnais lamp resemble the straps of a harness that connects the horse to its rider. 

In line with the Flâneur theme, Kersalé devised Lanterne d’Hermès as four individual light sources assembled on a single base in a leather case. Suitable both indoors and outdoors, the modular lighting fixture can either be used independently as separate light sources, or together for a cohesive touch.

“It’s a symbiosis between the land and sea,” explains Kersalé. Hermès’ strong standing in the equestrian world goes back to the 18th century, where premium leather saddles and harnesses complement horse-drawn carriages, and lanterns were essential to illuminate the way—much like how signalling lanterns on boats provide light to lost sailors at sea. 

Hermès’ artistic director Pierre-Alexis Dumas muses, “Light exalts our objects which, in turn, illuminate the everyday. Without it, the craftsman’s work would simply be impossible. Light is the intangible matter that enables us to give form to all others.” By amalgamating modern lighting technology with traditional saddle stitch and exquisite craftsmanship, Hermès en Lumière embodies the maison’s principle of never shying away from reinvention while staying true to its heritage.