Welcome home door handle
for
Vervloet
by Jean-François D'Or
Door handle collection
DESCRIPTION
Welcome home is a doorhandle collection based on high quality of Maison Vervloet knowhow and finishing. Artworks you can touch. Over and over again.
When I am looking for new projects, like for example the door handle, I usually play with existing objects. Coincidentally, I had a tobacco pipe in my hands and the more I looked at it, the more I was convinced that this could be an excellent door handle.
MATERIAL
Satin brass | Anodized aluminium | Other materials and finishes on request.
DIMENSION
Door handle 135 x 38 x H 50 mm.
Door and furniture knobs D 68 mm, D 38 mm, D 28 mm, D 18 mm.
Wall coat hangers hooks D 68 mm, D 38 mm, D 28 mm, D 18 mm.
Floor door wedge / Door stop D 68 mm.
DESIGN
Jean-François D'Or.
EDITION
Edited by Vervloet | Produced and distributed by Vervloet.
PRICE
Contact us to get prices and delivery time.
Award
Maison & Objet Paris 2017 | Best fair product award.
Pictures © Stéphanie Derouaux | Laetitia Bica © Page 10.
When I am looking for new concept, such as door handle by example, I usually play with existing old objects; creating a kind of inventory moldboard. Coincidentally, I had an old wooden tobacco pipe from my Grand-Father in my hands and the more I looked at it, the more I was convinced that this could be an excellent comfortable door handle.
Welcome home at Belgitude
Ideas often come to him from daily life. When his doorbell was broken, Jean-Francois D'Or experimented with a music box outside his entrance, and when he noticed that it conjured up a smile on every visitor’s face – Even the police were well-disposed ! – he decided to turn this makeshift object into a real doorbell. It had a fabulous effect, so I realized I had to do something with it. The result is a low-tech mood enhancing doorbell, made of brass with a mirror effect; to arrange your hair before the door opens but as the image is upside down it’s more of a clin d'oeil to make us smile even more broadly. After a long day’s work you want to come home and feel good.
It started with the bell, but Jean-Francois D'Or didn’t stop there. He developed two more objects to give us that welcoming feeling: a subdued jolly door handle and a simple yet assertive umbrella stand. When I am looking for new projects, like for example the door handle, I usually play with existing objects. Coincidentally, I had a tobacco pipe in my hands and the more I looked at it, the more I was convinced that this could be an excellent door handle.
Furthermore, all my life I’ve been in love with hats and umbrellas, so for me a nice umbrella stand is a must. Usually it’s the kind of item people prefer to hide behind the door, whereas I think they deserve recognition, especially in a country with as many rainy days as Belgium.
I have designed a practical umbrella stand in brass that welcomes you home, despite the showers outside.
For his Belgitude series, Jean-Francois D'Or worked with Maison Vervloet, ironmonger and purveyor of decorative hardware, a family company still going strong after a respectable 112 years. I’ve been working with them for many years. They excel at craftsmanship and working in brass. Of course, during such a long history quite a few door handles have been made. 45,000 to be more precise. I learned that when I shared my idea of designing a door handle for ‘Belgitude’: at Maison Vervloet they are obviously not easily impressed. So of course they teased me, and this door handle inspired by a smoking pipe is the result! The working relationship between Jean-Francois D'Or and Maison Vervloet has always been one of mutual appreciation, which ensures that everything is possible approach. Talk about ‘Linking Minds’.
Veerle Devos | DAMN° magazine | Picture © Laetitia Bica
When I am looking for new concept, such as door handle by example, I usually play with existing old objects; creating a kind of inventory moodboard. Coincidentally, I had an old wooden tobacco pipe from my Grand-Father in my hands and the more I looked at it, the more I was convinced that this could be an excellent comfortable door handle.
Its comes then as an evidence, I’ve tried on a door without handle within my design studio, and its works quiet well. Too easy ?! Nevertheless, perfectly ergonomic, comfortable and soft within the hand. I did directly notice a technical part that will be interesting: no need of that visible rosette between door and door handle. Indeed, the volume of the pipe object could include this rosette inside and thus becomes no visible. This object will be just like a comma on the punctuation of the doors.
I was then very scary that this object will be identify as it is: a smoking pipe on a door. Very frightened of that first degree level of concept; quiet poor and anecdotic. Nevertheless, I kept liking this obvious Ready made. I had to wait until the pictures shooting to get the answer on that scary first degree. Within a chosen architecture, we’ve fixed few of those door handles on existing doors for pictures. Many people crossed the places and none of them stop and said Oh funny those smoking pipe on door. Reassured, this collection could start its life.
Of course, this was not that easy, for many reasons. First of all, researching perfect proportions to get perfect ergonomics and technical fitting on door. Then, realize the 3D file and construction of that object in those good proportions and dimensions, just like designing my own smoking pipe, sorry, door handle. Come now the long research on technical solutions and suppliers until the perfect balance. Long road…
This collection exist in brass material and can be satin or hand polished-mirror. From this material many different kind of bath allows to get different surfaces finishing as chrome, nickel, silver, gold, copper, pink gold,… I also wanted to introduce a new material into the Maison Vervloet mood: anodized aluminium. I did bring the mat black anodized aluminium to Vervloet for this humble aspect, very soft touch and deeply mat black as alternative that architecture will introduce. I did that first for the AUDREY collection, and its works very well. We did it also for this new “René” collection, but I wanted more and suggest to try this magic electric mat blue anodized aluminium. Vervloet people though I was quiet mad and crazy, I know, so do I. Blue, nothing but blue, it is only just like a tiny comma on the punctuation of the doors.
Again, there is no surrealism purpose on that handle concept. The press people rushed on it as: Belgian surrealism design or Ceci n’est pas une pipe, Ceci n’est pas une poignée. I really would like to leave René Magritte in peace, and not using his art on commercial aspect and effect as it has been done too many time here in Belgium. I do deeply appreciate his painting and mind, so do I for surrealism movement.
Nevertheless, and very honestly, it was not the goal and intentions on that object. This is the reason why I do call this collection on my website Welcome home and not René; with a huge respect for this artist.
Welcome home collection
MATERIAL
Satin brass | Anodized aluminium | Other materials and finishes on request.
DIMENSION
Door handle 135 x 38 x H 50 mm.
Door and furniture knobs D 68 mm, D 38 mm, D 28 mm, D 18 mm.
Wall coat hangers hooks D 68 mm, D 38 mm, D 28 mm, D 18 mm.
Floor door wedge / Door stop D 68 mm.
DESIGN
Jean-François D'Or.
EDITION
Edited by Vervloet | Produced and distributed by Vervloet.
PRICE
Contact us to get prices and delivery time.
