Vitra L’Oiseau Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, 2011 | Maple

Motifs drawn from nature have played an important role in interior furnishings since the earliest examples known to us, and natural forms and structures have also been a recurring theme in the work of Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec. L'Oiseau, an avian figure of archaic simplicity, is reminiscent of the unpretentious artefacts of Nordic folk art. Its sleek form attractively enriches contemporary interiors without the cuteness or even tackiness so commonly associated with animal figures. L'Oiseau is available as a wooden bird made of milled maple and sanded to a smooth finish, or as a ceramic figure in a choice of colours. Considerable craftsmanship goes into the fabrication of each piece, making it a unique object with individual characteristics.