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STRAW AND INTERTWINED PATTERNS
STRAW MARQUETRY
INTERTWINED
PATTERNS
This unmistakable finish has become an Armani/ Casa
signature through the years. The origins of this technique
are very ancient: first traces of straw marquetry can be
found in Far East countries and date back to the Middle
Age. Only after the late XVII century this decoration motif
spread in central Europe, becoming very popular especially
in France. During the Art Déco period, it was used for the
for first time to decorate luxury furniture.
The process to obtain this finish is entirely hand made and
requires several steps in which the skill of the artisan is
crucial: from the cutting of rye straws to their flattening,
from their glueing to the final polishing, everything must
be carefully done to obtain the breath-taking look typical
of this precious material. Available in different colors and
designs, straw marquetry is also proposed in a lacquered
version (Shiny Bronze Straw Marquetry) to make it suitable
for the top of the Nelson dining table; on this product, the
marquetry creates an all-over design.
Crisscross Natural Straw is obtained using a base panel
covered by vertical rye straws, contrasting with the
horizontal ones glued to leave the background visible. The
alternance of vertical and horizontal stripes affects the way
light hits the surface, giving back several tones of gold and
brown that change depending on the angle of view. The
finish is covered by a layer of matt transparent paint to make
the surface smooth and more resistant. Like marquetries,
this finish requires many hours to be completed: the straws
are carefully glued one by one to create the intricate
pattern.
Natural-Black Tatami is a textured material obtained by
weaving paper yarns around a core of resistant cotton
strings. The tatami-inspired surface is marked by a three-
dimensional motif, recalling a canneté effect thanks to the
two contrasting colors: these features create a strong link
to the world of fashion and Japanese culture at the same
time.
SHINY BRONZE STRAW
MARQUETRY
BLACK STRAW
MARQUETRY
CRISSCROSS NATURAL
STRAW
BRONZE STRAW
MARQUETRY
Black Straw Marquetry
NATURAL-BLACK
TATAMI
