Hotte Armchair

Overview

The Hotte armchair is a high-backed, hand-woven armchair by Philippe Starck for Cassina. Its shape and materials were inspired by the gerla, the tall basket carried on the shoulders of agricultural workers during the fruit harvest.

Construction

• Structure: vertical elements in rattan with bark.
• Weave: hand-woven natural willow with decorative knots, distinguished by the change in diameter due to the natural growth of the branch.
• Cushions: Voyage natural leather with contrasting top-stitching in a light neutral shade.

Specifications

• 80 x 91 x 125 cm (W x D x H, drawing 231 01).

From the fruit-harvest basket

Cassina ties Hotte to Philippe Starck's interest in local traditions and craftsmanship and calls the armchair an artisan-crafted refuge. A tall hand-woven basket, the gerla, which agricultural workers carry on their shoulders during the fruit harvest, gave the shape and the materials.

Woven by hand

The page says the high back and base are made from hand-woven wicker through a lengthy, meticulous process that needs careful selection of materials and great manual skill. Details include knots at the ends of the armrests and along the curved backrest, plus vertical rattan inserts added to the willow weave.