Convergence by Hervé Van der Straeten
Hervé Van der Straeten has long eschewed creative constraints. ‘My design philosophy has always evolved around freedom and being able to make whatever I wanted,’ the French designer tells Christie’s. An École des Beaux-Arts graduate, he initially began making jewellery in the mid-1980s before establishing his revered bronze and woodworking workshops two decades later. ‘I’m always aiming to create concepts that are very strong and graphic, but as you get closer to the pieces, you discover the quality and craftsmanship of the materials.’ Van der Straeten’s wide-ranging designs have become national treasures — not only did he conceive the iconic gold-ringed J’Adore perfume bottle for Dior in the 1990s, but his furnishings have pride of place at Élysée Palace, the official residence of the President of France, as well as in the homes of many of the world’s top art collectors.