Sunday Paper Edition 017: Hidden Gems

What’s We're Reading

Despite being dubbed “the finest living novelist” by W.H. Auden in a 1952 Time interview, Henry Green never reached the broad readership he deserved. However, his stock among fellow writers remains high to this day so when an author friend of ours recommended that we read Green’s collection Loving, Living, Party Going, we immediately set out to our local bookshop to pick up a copy. Given the luminous prose, brilliant comedy and originality of his storytelling, we are bewildered that Green has never been popularly received. His much more commercially successful colleague Anthony Burgess (of A Clockwork Orange fame) once said that “Green’s books remain solid and glittering as gems”. We couldn’t agree more… 

And whilst we’re on the topic of reading, for those of you who are lucky enough to find yourselves in Florence, do check out our favourite bookshop / restaurant Todo Modo. Tiny but exquisitely designed, this is a hidden oasis for English and Italian book lovers alike.  

Where We're Seeking Inspiration

We recently visited the Drawing Matter Collection in rural Sommerset, which is the (perhaps unlikely) home to a seriously impressive archive of architectural drawings from the sixteenth century to the present day. Located on a farm at the end of a narrow country lane amongst grain siloes and cows, the library and collection are housed across a number of striking modern buildings. As architecture has always been a huge influence for the Métier team, we left feeling utterly inspired and filled with new ideas for future pieces. (Visits by appointment only.)

What We're Drinking

Yes, there is champagne in all its glory but our friends at Buon Vino are telling us that their fancy fizz of choice this month is a bottle of Divella Blanc de Blancs Gussago from Lombardy’s Franciacorta region. Made from 100% Chardonnay by the small, independent producer Alessandre Divella, the altitude of her vineyard in combination with the limestone-rich soil, results in a pure, medium bodied and delicately biscuity wine which matches perfectly with the light dishes of the season such as antipasti, salads and shellfish. With only 5,000 bottles being released globally each year, this is a rare treat that we will definitely stock our cellars with this summer.

Where We're Sleeping

If you find yourself in the South of France and want an out-of-the-ordinary hotel experience, head over to Fondation CAB in Saint-Paul-de-Vence and check out La Maison Démontable, created by the legendary 20th century architect Jean Prouvé. Starting his career as a blacksmith’s apprentice, he is especially celebrated for his remarkably elegant (but now very rare) prefabricated flatpack houses. (He also collaborated on furniture designs with Charlotte Perriand and Pierre Jeanneret.) As part of their collection, CAB has acquired one of Prouvé’s houses which is nestled discreetly at the bottom of their garden. Suitable for two, you and your favourite person can now sleep inside a true architectural gem.

What Museum We're Visiting

Japanese aesthetics (shubui) has always been a big influence for us so when we learned that the world’s first museum dedicated to the bonsai tree is located in Italy (which we visit frequently because of our atelier in Tuscany), we immediately decided to go on an excursion. The astonishing collection at the Crespi Bonsai Museum can be found in the Milanese suburb of Parabiago where you can also attend courses in the art of caring for these precious trees, thought by Master Nobuyuki Kajiwara. Crespi’s crown jewel is a thousand-year-old ficus retusa linn whose harmonious proportions and patina will make even the busiest mind to stop and take stock for a moment.

Métier Du Jour

When asking our founder and designer Melissa Morris what piece she thinks of as a hidden gem, she immediately responded “the small wallet!” and we can see why; meticulously crafted in a range of exquisite materials, it holds all the cards and cash you need for a light-weight summer outing and has Métier’s signature pull-out strap which gives you instant access to the wallet’s contents.