Catherine Romand & Clémence Althabegoïty An ode to the ancient art of basketry and the march of time.

Basketry, design and the sciences 

Tresser l'ombre is designed not only to protect you from the sun but also to detect the position of its rays in order to identify the season, like an immersive sundial. To achieve this, the pair called on Pascal Descamp, astronomer at the Paris Observatory, who calculated the sun’s trajectories in the Touraine region using a series of algorithms. It’s this data that Clémence used to design the piece, starting off by producing the shape in 3D and the technical drawings using modelling software.

After creating the metal framework, Catherine set about weaving the entire structure, whose imposing size is a real technical feat in itself – using wicker grown without pesticides in her own field, harvested and processed in the most eco-friendly way possible, simply using linseed oil. Other challenges at the wicker weaving stage were that a very precise angle was required to match the exact latitude of the location, and just as specific a gradation of colours for the identification of the seasons, ranging from a white wicker (with no bark) for winter to a very dark brown raw wicker to symbolise summer. All combined with wales (horizontal bands of weave) that symbolise the key dates in the year – equinoxes and winter and summer solstices.

The finished piece is a hugely poetic refuge where you can shelter from the sun all year round while being able to identify the time of year through the weaving of the wicker. It also encourages us to reconnect with the cycle of the seasons and to examine our relationship with time, but above all it is intended as a celebration of the ancient art of basketry, at a time when wicker growing is particularly threatened by climate disruption.