Bottega Veneta's latest runway prop originates from a whiskey box washed ashore outside Monaco in the 1950s. Architect Le Corbusier found the water-worn item dashed against the rocks outside his Le Cabanon home on the Côte d’Azur, and used it as inspiration to design his classic LC14 Tabouret Cabanon wooden stool. Decades later, attendees of Creative Director Matthieu Blazy's Fall/Winter 2024 runway show found themselves sitting on custom iterations of the iconic design.
Sleek and adorned only in a natural wood grain, the seat was a testament to Le Corbusier's pared-back tastes. Now, at Milan Design Week, Bottega Veneta has partnered with Cassina and Fondation Le Corbusier to present “On the Rocks,” a show dedicated to the small but timeless item, reimagined with a few modern touches. "On the Rocks" is curated by Blazy, open to the public through April 20, and set against the backdrop of Palazzo San Fedele—a venue poised to become Bottega Veneta’s new headquarters later this year.
The presentation is Blazy's second at Milan Design Week following "Viene a Vedere," a collaboration last year with the late designer Gaetano Pesce. "On the Rocks" presents two variants of the LC14 Tabouret stacked in towering assortments; one features a traditional Japanese wood-charring method that enhances the wood’s natural grain, while the other models Bottega Veneta’s signature Intreccio foulard technique in leather, woven by hand at the house’s atelier in Montebello.
The leather variation comes in red, yellow, blue, and a unique raintree green shade, crafted by layering the paint on with a brush, before partially removing the pigment to add a one-of-a-kind, painterly texture. The limited edition designs cap at 60 leather pieces and 100 made in wood. In addition to the reimagined LC14 Tabouret, the “On the Rocks” installation also includes an original sample of the whiskey box that inspired Le Corbusier’s design on prominent display.
Model Anok Yai was enlisted to star in the accompanying campaign, shot by Pierre Debusschere, where she can be seen wearing nothing but a well-positioned stool and pair of black underwear. Of the project, she noted in a statement, "It was so inspiring working with Matthieu and Bottega Veneta on this shoot, celebrating such an iconic piece of design. The collaborative environment and the versatility of the Tabouret created a real sense of openness and ease, empowering me to be dark, naked and free."
