Tokyo Illustrator Ryo Takemasa Conceives a New Assortment of Tableware for Hermès

The farm-fresh fruit depicted on the dessert plates and cake dishes of the Kaorumi collection by Hermès is as irresistible as the first tarts of spring.

Presented against crisp white porcelain rimmed with hand-painted gilt, these artistic representations of 15 different varieties aren’t run-of-the-mill botanical studies. Tokyo illustrator Ryo Takemasa heightened the geometrical allure of figs, pears, and more, initially rendering them with a ruler and compass, before coloring them in deliciously ripe hues with painterly shading and depth. With their imposed symmetry and playful patterning, they evoke kaorumi, a Japanese term relating to taste and smell, and give guests the perfect excuse for cleaning their plates to reveal the artwork in full.