The Haas Brothers and L’Objet’s ceramic creatures tell a surreal story in Joshua Tree
Hitchhiking vessels, wandering coffee pots and sun-burnt serving bowls feature in a new film that captures the Haas L’Objet collection’s pure imagination
Haas Fox Salad Monster serving bowl, and Haas Lukas Soup Monster tureen. Photography: Elio Tolot. Art direction of photography: Michael Reynold. Film direction. Mason Poole. All photography courtesy of L’Objet
First seen at Design Miami in December 2018, the otherwordly Haas L’Objet collection is now available, spanning tableware and textiles in the form of desert-dwelling creatures.
Inspired by the mystic landscape of Joshua Tree in the California desert, LA-based artist twins Simon and Nikolai Haas worked with Elad Yifrach (creative director and master craftsman at lifestyle brand L’Objet) to create a family of characterful critters, that double as highly usable home objects. Elegant catch-all bowls with hand-carved scales have bellies ready to be filled with oddities; salt and pepper monsters have textured, porcelain ‘fur’ coats; salad spoons double as antennae, sprouting from a mint-green serving bowl.
‘In the beginning we were considered fabricators, then designers, then high-end designers and now artists,’ Nikolai told us upon the launch of the Haas Brothers’ Bass Museum exhibition in December 2018. The L’Objet collection reflects the brothers’ artful exploration of functional forms, that, in Nikolai’s words ‘makes somebody think differently, or feel a certain way’. If their ‘Djuna’ creature, complete with four varnished gold paws, doesn't make you look at a coffee pot differently, we don't know what will.
Haas Djuna coffee and tea pots
The Haas Brothers’ original sketches were first printed in 3D in their LA studio, then transformed into reality by L'Objet's design team in its Portuguese porcelain atelier, where Yifrach and the Brothers flew out to get hands-on with production. Together, they sculpted each prototype by hand before moulds were made ready for the porcelain pouring. This combination of handmade and technical manufacturing methods affords the collection a unique balance of precision and warmth.
Ahead of a launch party at Bergdorf Goodman in New York, on 7 March, L’Objet has released a dream-like new film, directed by LA-based photographer Mason Poole, that sees the objects in their (un)natural habitat. ‘Both the brothers and I have a strong affinity to the desert, especially Joshua Tree,’ explains Yifrach. ‘We imagined a lot of the pieces in the collection as fantasy creatures living in this magical place. It felt right to photograph them in the land in which they were imagined.’
Enlisting Poole, better known for photographing pop-stars than pot-stars, was a savvy move. ‘Mason has such a cool way of telling a cinematic story that is unique to how he sees things, and we wanted him to follow us and feel the connection with this vast space,’ Yifrach continues. ‘I love the way the video puts these emotions and our inspiration together. He captured it perfectly.’ Now, to capture the critters themselves.
Haas Horn candlestick
Haas Optipus magnifying glass
Haas Monster incense burner
Haas Lazy Susan Catchall
Haas Djuna coffee and tea pot
Haas Lynda Box and plates
Haas Celestial Octopus tray (limited edition of 500)
Haas Unicorn Octopus letter opener
Haas Mojave Desert bowl
From left, Haas Mojave Unicorn candle, Haas Mojave vase in grey, Haas Mojave vase in green, Gaas Gilla Monster vase in pink and grey
Haas Gila Monster vessel (limited edition of 15)
Large Haas Mojave Palm candlestick in grey and small Haas Mojave Palm candlestick in pink
Haas Monster Ball incense burner
Haas Monster vessel (limited edition of 15)
Haas Mojave Unicorn candle four-wick and Haas Mojave Moon table lamp
Haas Simon Leg table lamp
Haas Vermiculation pillow in green, red and yellow
Haas Lukas Soup Monster tureen
Haas Celestial Octopus throw
Haas Mojave Unicorn candle four-wick
INFORMATION
The collection will be celebrated at a launch party at Bergdorf Goodman, New York, on 7 March. For more information, visit the L’Objet website and the Haas Brothers website
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Elly Parsons is the Digital Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees Wallpaper.com and its social platforms. She has been with the brand since 2015 in various roles, spending time as digital writer – specialising in art, technology and contemporary culture – and as deputy digital editor. She was shortlisted for a PPA Award in 2017, has written extensively for many publications, and has contributed to three books. She is a guest lecturer in digital journalism at Goldsmiths University, London, where she also holds a masters degree in creative writing. Now, her main areas of expertise include content strategy, audience engagement, and social media.
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