©Amorim Cork Composites
Because simplicity is at the heart of Maison Matisse's values, we always choose to work with natural materials. Thus, the pieces of Les Mille et Une Nuits collection are 100% recycled and made by a FSC-certified specialist (®- C022338). The choice of cork allows both an innovative design, little worked in the world of decoration until now, as well as a new application of color through flat paint. (picture : ©Amorim Cork Composites)
Cork
Cork is the outer bark of the Cork oak tree, whose forests are found in the western part of the Mediterranean basin. We also find Cork forests in Spain and North Africa (Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia). At Maison Matisse, the main source of raw cork comes from Portuguese forests.
The harvesting of the Cork oak tree takes place every 9 years and its extraction is harmless to it. The foreseeable life of the tree is about 200 years. The harvesting of cork is fundamental for the sustainability of the cork oak forest, as it allows to regulate its plantation, while giving the necessary space to the tree to grow in the best conditions. Each harvest period is followed by a series of plantations, to allow the species to be renewed and to meet the different production needs.
The cork used to make our pieces (stool, shelves, trays, desk accessories) comes from a mixture of these cork oak barks, as well as cork scraps from cork recycling. The cork is then ground and cleaned to obtain a block of raw material from which each product will be cut.
Cork has many qualities that are interesting when designing a product: its lightness, its soft touch, the warmth that its texture gives off. It all depends on the nature of the cork of course, some remain rough and grainy, and others like the one we used can be soft and pleasant to the touch. Each piece is made from one or more moldings to obtain a final, one-of-a-kind, shape.
Certifications
Cork manufactured by a FSC-certified specialist (®- C022338)
Cork is crushed only by mechanical means.
Without the use of chemicals (SVH free)
Cork is a hypoallergenic, rot-proof, lightweight, liquid-tight and low-air-permeability, heat and fire resistant, chemically neutral, heat and sound insulating material that is particularly elastic and resilient over time yet underutilized in the design world, which here contributes to an innovative collection paying homage to the unbridled originality of Henri Matisse.
Cork is also very easily recycled, and the cork used for this collection can come from debarking or else from the recycling channel.
Production process
The cork is first reduced in grains, then by adding a binder is agglomerated in blocks. The cork blocks are then cut into slices and, thanks to a machine working in 3D, with mechanical arms (CNC), the technician comes to carve the final shape in the slice. All the waste from this process can be recycled immediately by returning to the first stage.
Then, the paint is applied by hand. The colors are selected specifically for Maison Matisse and match the color palette of the painting.
Collection Mille et Une Nuits
The pieces are made entirely in Portugal, where the tradition of cork work remains strong. Each piece is laser cut and finished by hand, requiring the expertise of local specialists to experiment with this natural material. The result echoes the work of Henri Matisse, who experimented with cutting paper to create a new type of painting.
