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The Les Mille et Une Nuits Workplace Collection Turns Matisse 3D

01.23.23 | By
The Les Mille et Une Nuits Workplace Collection Turns Matisse 3D

The task of translating a masterful painting into three-dimensional objects is no small feat, as Guillaume Delvigne can likely tell you. Created for Maison Matisse, the French designer reimagined Henri Matisse’s 1950 painting “Les Mille et Une Nuits” into a collection by the same name for today’s workspaces. These are the first office accessories being offered by the brand, and they are functional, versatile, and expressive. Les Mille et Une Nuits, the collection, made its debut in Paris at Maison & Objet, January 18-23, 2023.

styled interior living space with lounge chair and cork side table

Photo: Alexis Armanet

“It was really important for me that the results were not rigid, because that would not have been in the spirit of Matisse, and to instead create movement and make the collection dynamic,” says Delvigne.

He borrowed the essence of Matisse’s painting, particularly the original scissor-cut shapes and bold fields of color, to design the office collection. Using blocks of sliced cork, a very sustainable material, stools, trays, shelves, and more, soon took their forms. Veritable 3D objects of the artist’s paper-cuts!

green lacquered desk with a corn pencil cip and cork tray

Photo: Alexis Armanet

green velvet armchair with cork tray and two books

Photo: Alexis Armanet

small wall shelf with green edging holding books and a vase with flowers

Photo: Alexis Armanet

cork side table with red edging

Photo: Clément Savel

cork side table with grey edging

Photo: Clément Savel

cork side table with green edging

Photo: Clément Savel

cork side table with neon yellow edging

Photo: Clément Savel

cork pencil cup with red and grey detailing

Photo: Clément Savel

cork pencil cup with navy blue and neon yellow detailing

Photo: Clément Savel

Photo: Clément Savel

two cork trays, one with a navy blue interior and the other with green edging

Photo: Clément Savel

cork desk tray with grey detailing

Photo: Clément Savel

cork desk tray with green detailing

Photo: Clément Savel

cork wall shelf with neon yellow edging

Photo: Clément Savel

cork wall shelf with grey edging

Photo: Clément Savel

cork wall shelf with red edging

Photo: Clément Savel

To learn more about the Les Mille et Une Nuits collection, visit maison-matisse.com.

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she's likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.