Page 46 - S/ Summer 2022

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Sense and Sensitivity
French textile designer Sarah Espeute of Œuvres Sensibles waxes nostalgic about what inspires the the unique aesthetic of her sustainable tableware By Lora Grady
F F rench rench artist designer and and owner of of of Œuvres Sensibles Sarah Espeute has fond memories of of of gathering around her her her family’s dining table for every meal as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a child Her father collected a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a large
assortment of old second-hand French Digoin Sarreguemines plates that they they would eat from daily— for for special special occasions they’d select the the the the the the the the the the most beautiful ones Espeute’s mother taught her her to to to set the the the the the the the the the the table “especially to to to put the the the the the the the the the fork on on on on the the the the the the the the the right and and the the the the the the the the the knife towards the the the the the the the the the inside on on on on the the the the the the the the the left ” she astutely recalls These pleasant remembrances are are are present throughout Espeute’s work work Her designs are are are minimalistic and and and and whimsical and and and and it’s it’s clear to to to see how much careful handiwork goes into each one—whether it’s it’s a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a napkin with an an an an an embroidered outline of a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a fork and and and and knife (a nod to to to her her her mother’s lesson) or or or a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a table runner that features hand-stitched pears Espeute finds inspiration fin in in in in in the the the the authenticity of everyday life whether it’s fin in in in in in the the the the arts cinema or architecture “Many moments visually visually touch me me me me me and I try to to to visually visually transcribe that fin in in in in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a personal way way ” she says “There must always be be a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a meaning a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a truth a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a sincerity for me me me me me me to to to to like it it it it it ” Even the name Œuvres Sensibles (which translates to to “sensitive works”) was inspired by Éric Rohmer’s film titles which which Espeute finds poetic “I like the the name ‘Sensitive’—it expresses a a a a a a a a a a a a a very personal perception of things I I want my creations whatever they are are to have a a a a a a a a a a a a a soul a a a a a a a a a a a a a sensitivity ” Espeute’s collections are are also sustainable As part of her appreciation for old materials that contain their own family histories she sources high-quality antique linen and cotton from individuals all over France to to to to create her pieces—most of the the fabric is is 50 to to to to 100 years years old Espeute learned to to to to embroider at at at school when she she was just seven years years old old and and later she she often used textiles in in in in in in her her her her applied art art studies—which led her her her her to to make her her her her own own curtains and and and cushions for her her her her home During the COVID-19 lockdown in in in in in in in in in 2020 Espeute started making and and and selling embroidered trompe l’oeil tablecloths As more orders rolled in in in in in in in she decided to subcontract artisans in in in in in in in France and and and create a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a business out of of it Today Œuvres Sensibles uses two types of of embroidery Marseille and and Cornely which are completed in in in Paris on a a a a a a a a a a manually operated machine from the 19th century When she’s not experimenting with new designs Espeute can be found entertaining friends around her her own dining table in in in in in in in her her apartment “I love putting out my my antique plates when it’s my my turn to host ” SMAGAZINEOFFICIAL COM FOOD + DRINK