PHOTOS COURTESY OF HERMÈS
At Hermès, the tablescape serves as a stage, and with its latest tableware collection, the maison delivers a joyful performance. Both precise and poetic, Kaorumi quite literally transforms everyday dining into a fruitful ritual. Whether at a lively dinner party or a quiet teatime for two, each setting feels considered and every moment elevated.
PHOTO COURTESY OF HERMÈS
For this collection, Hermès turns to the art world and collaborates with Japanese illustrator Ryo Takemasa. He’s known for a contemporary style that feels clean and quietly minimalist. As a result, the maison presents a whimsical suite of 15 porcelain pieces centred on fruit. These include 12 dessert plates, plus a watermelon tart platter, a pineapple cake platter and a bowl.
The name Kaorumi translates to ‘the fragrance of fruits’ and the collection truly lives up to it. Sliced kiwi, peeled oranges and pomegranate wedges appear across luminous white porcelain. In turn, the crisp backdrop amplifies their vibrant colours and sculptural forms. Altogether, the fruits look fresh, graphic and almost good enough to taste.
Takemasa draws each fruit using a compass and ruler, so mathematical precision shapes every curve. Then, he layers in delicate shades and subtle textures for added depth. Because of that symmetry and slightly surreal scale, the illustrations move beyond botanical studies. Instead, they become a playful, visual feast that rewards a closer look.
Artisans apply the motifs using hand-laid chromolithography, then finish each piece with hand-applied gold trimming. Consequently, the colours feel so fresh that the porcelain almost suggests scent and flavour. Priced from SGD720 for two dessert plates to SGD2150 for a set of six, Kaorumi is now available in Hermès boutiques and online.
