@HENNESSY X.O X FRANK GEHRY
World-renowned architect Frank Gehry unveiled a masterpiece decanter for Hennessy X.O. 150th Anniversary.
Frank Gehry marries gold and glass to extol the rich legacy of the Hennessy Maison. The masterpiece cognac decanter designed by the famous architect in celebration of the 150th anniversary of Hennessy X.O. is a discovery of an unexpected sensorial experience.
@HENNESSY X.O X FRANK GEHRY
HENNESSY X.O X FRANK GEHRY
Frank Gehry’s boundless designs (including The Guggenheim Bilbao, Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, and The Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris to name a few) never stop pushing the theme of movement—the ground bends, walls lean, lines defy gravity, and the impossible is not only imagined but executed with pure emotion and visual poetry.
150 years after its creation, at the 2020 harvest season, Hennessy X.O commissioned a remarkable World Odyssey, unveiling Frank Gehry’s creation to the world on September 25th on the same day as the epic, ephemeral firework event by artist Cai Guo-Qiang over Cognac’s Charente River. The centerpiece of Hennessy X.O’s 150th anniversary World Odyssey program – the event was shared globally via livestream—a first for both Cai Guo-Qiang and the Maison.
Speaking on the collaboration Frank Gehry said, “It was an honor to be asked to celebrate this milestone for Hennessy X.O. While I was
excited, it was also daunting because a bottle of cognac is already a work of art—one you can smell, taste, and feel—it doesn’t need embellishment as it’s already there. We are showing how we can be creative within that language. There’s such a powerful history and serious emotional commitment from the people that make this product. It has a resonance that’s interesting to tie into and become a part of.”
Drawing inspiration from the rich Hennessy X.O blend, and the vital soil, twisting vines, and the glistening Charente River that runs through the Hennessy Maison, Frank Gehry has created a true sensorial masterpiece. The iconic Hennessy X.O bottle is enveloped in a crinkled sleeve of 24 carat gold-dipped bronze, evoking the radiant movement of water as it reflects the light. The sculptural decanter is encased by a fractured glass glorifier, which further amplifies the inspiration of water and light.
@HENNESSY X.O X FRANK GEHRY
“I wanted to bring it to life, and so I took inspiration from its birthplace and used this crumpling effect of the material that gives it a feeling of movement,” Gehry adds. “The materials I’ve chosen catch the light and make this a really beautiful object on its own, but then you realize it is a bottle of Hennessy X.O.”
The thought-provoking and challenging design was executed with the work of artisans who created the second skin of Hennessy X.O. Just like the master blenders, who pass on their expertise, the artisans perpetuate an art form and the gift of secret craftmanship. Each stage that went into bringing Gehry’s idea to life, required care, attention, high standards and patience.
To further the experience of the decanter, Frank Gehry has created a luminous and beautifully understated fusil made of brass and gold. The device keenly reflects the Hennessy cellar master’s ritual to extract the extra old cognac. Further keeping with the element of surprise and contrast, the decanter, glorifier and fusil are packaged in a protective case that is in itself a design object, imprinted with Frank Gehry’s signature and made of compressed cardboard—an homage to a series of corrugated cardboard furniture Frank Gehry designed in the 1970s.
The luxury cognac house announced a limited run of 150 extraordinary numbered decanters, imprinted with Frank Gehry’s signature. A wider release of limited-edition Hennessy X.O bottles also created by Frank Gehry, will launch in markets worldwide to further celebrate the collaboration.
@HENNESSY X.O X FRANK GEHRY
