NEW YORK— Reed & Barton introduced its first new dinnerware collection with designer Thomas O’Brien since being acquired by Lenox in 2015, at the New York Tabletop Market.
The porcelain Maison Couleur Collection, designed by O’Brien, takes inspiration from a 19th century, French tile pattern catalog he had discovered in his travels. The collection has a vintage feel, with the rich, rendered colors of the tile: black, brick red, French blue and cream.
“I was drawn to this wonderful little book with its compilation of such classic to more elaborate tile patterns, especially because it comes directly from the time when tile was being used in this certain way in homes and cafes,” said O’Brien.
“This partnership with Thomas has always been about quality first, and how to steer that central value in modern directions,” said Tim Riddle, president, Reed & Barton. “Thomas’ gift is seeing the ways to tap into the best examples of classic china, crystal, silver and metalware, in order to update them.”
In terms of styles, Diamant No. 10 and Ardeche No. 35, adapted from the catalog, showcase grids of diamonds that join elegant quatrefoils. A third pattern, Martine No. 16, is an original that borrows on the actual framing and cream color of the background of the design plates. All three are designed to be easy to mix, both in colorway and in pattern.
