With the Château 150 Lex Pott edition, La Cornue has concentrated on the beauty of transformation. This is a story about the transcendence of a common object into a work of art.
For each edition of EuroCucina, La Cornue prides itself on the creation of style, dreaming up an exceptional creation to demonstrate its expertise in the world of luxury kitchens. This is aptly demonstrated in the newly designed Château 150, created in collaboration with the Dutch designer Lex Pott.
Under the guidance of the designer, the solid brass faces of the iconic ranges are transformed into fascinating oxidised textures of electric blue.
Lex Pott’s work has always been passionate and highly personal in regards to both the materials used and their origins, he uses minimalist lines to bring out the essence of things.
Growing up in a family of painters, he approaches every transformation in its all its pictorial, graphical and formal aspects. His work on the oxidation of metals has led to what can only be termed “true colour”.
With metal oxides, he is attempting to find “Organic colours that are alive, have an edge of imperfection and can be worked like paint. The material develops a patina as it ages, which becomes increasingly sophisticated over time”, Explains Potts. This is true for all La Cornue ranges, which are transformed into jewels the more they are used.
“The idea here was not to work on the effect, but above all to find original colours, to work with oxidation without sinking into traditionalism, to find an approach which was both poetic and contemporary at the same time.
This method of approaching transformation remains faithful to the creative processes used at La Cornue, and more specifically, to the raw materials transformed into exceptional objects at the Paris workshops, letting the object itself render this last transformation, that which La Cornue has been overseeing for over a century, the transformation of raw food into an exquisite dish.
Oxidation, the footprint of time passing
Metal oxides tell another story and give rise to new emotions. “In its natural state copper is often blue” explains Lex Pott.
Iron can be anywhere between orange and brown. And the oxidation reveals valuable information about the original colour of each metal. Every metal reacts differently when subjected to oxidation. Creating the desired effect is not the result of chance or pot-luck. If oxidation initially accelerates the ageing, it stops when the material is immersed in an ice bath.” The natural patina forming over time on La Cornue ranges is converted into an exercise in style.
This transformation of the metal, chemical in this case, nevertheless remains similar to the work of the manufacturer, just like a chef working the ingredients with his hands, with his imagination and his passion.
Lex Pott’s work also carries a certain amount of ambivalence between the true and the false, the drawing and the object itself, the dream and the reality, a philosophy which is close to that of La Cornue.
About Lex Pott
Lex Pott is an important figure among young international designers. Holding a degree from the Eindhoven Design Academy and growing up in a family of painters in Amsterdam. After working at Hella Jongerius, he founded his company in 2010, he also creates works for galleries and takes on industrial projects. It is his work with metal oxidation and mirrors that has brought him public recognition. As well as the project for La Cornue, he is also presenting a series of objects for Hay at this year’s Milan trade fair.
About the Château 150 Lex Pott edition
Doors and front face plated in solid oxidised brass
Bright brass frames
2 vaulted ovens, gas and electric
Price: on request
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