Mortaise Shelf – Black Edition
by Clemence Birot France

345 - 422 incl. tax
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  • This is an Open Edition
    Each edition may differ
    How is this defined? A series of pieces that are not restricted by any predetermined volume limit. Each item is meticulously produced by the designer or in collaboration with skilled local artisans, resulting in a limited quantity of unique pieces. If stated, each item may exhibit slight variations due to its handcrafted origin.
  • Can be customized upon request
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Description

The Mortaise 400 and Mortaise 750 shelves by Clémence Birot embody a thoughtful confrontation of materials, where the warmth of cork meets the precision of metal—assembled without glue. A folded metal frame is seamlessly embedded within a solid cork slab, ensuring structural integrity and effortless disassembly, allowing for full product recyclability at the end of its lifecycle. This innovative approach also reduces transportation constraints, thanks to its flat-pack design.

Material & Finish

✔ Cork tinted in black – Finished with a natural, 0% VOC, food-grade oil dye
✔ Stainless steel frame – A subtle yet structural element
✔ Sustainability-first design – Glue-free assembly for effortless recycling
✔ Handcrafted in Portugal – Created by artisans with exceptional craftsmanship

Design Philosophy

The Mortaise shelves celebrate the simplicity of Scandinavian design, where clean lines, soft geometry, and fundamental shapes such as curves, circles, and ellipses interact harmoniously. The contrast between gentle forms and sharper angles creates an energetic tension, elevating its minimalist aesthetic. Inspired by mortise and tenon wooden joints, the inlaid metal detail within the cork emphasizes the elegance of precise craftsmanship and material honesty.

Sustainability & Longevity

These shelves are designed to age gracefully, encouraging longevity and heirloom-quality appreciation. Chosen for both their aesthetic and technical properties, the materials are selected not just for their durability, but for how they evolve over time.

Cork, in particular, offers a wealth of ecological advantages:

  • CO₂ Absorption: Cork oaks are among the highest CO₂-absorbing tree species, making cork harvesting a natural ally in climate change mitigation.
  • Regenerative Harvesting: No trees are cut—only the bark is harvested every nine years, allowing for continuous regeneration while preserving forest ecosystems.
  • Recyclability & Versatility: The material is biodegradable, reusable, and endlessly recyclable, reducing its environmental footprint.

By seamlessly blending sustainability with intelligent design, the Mortaise 400 and 750 shelves stand as timeless objects, where material innovation and functional beauty converge.

Dimensions LxWxH
Variations

40x25x6, 75x25x6

Weight (kg)

0.1

Production Year

Material

Color

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Design Class

About Clemence Birot Visit Showroom →

When I started my career in Copenhagen, Denmark, I discovered a design practice closely related to craftsmanship. The latter plays an avant-garde role. Motivated by a free artistic practice and enriched by its know-how, it dictates the exploratory and innovative dynamic in the design process.  Thus in the design studios I worked for, I frequently collaborated with artisans for the product development (tableware, interior accessories). Their know-how led me to the constant research of a unique result where the material is respected and despite technical challenges always in focus. The material itself occupies this central place throughout all the project. Back in France, I hold on to this collaborative approach with craftsmen, whether for the initial phases of creation or for bespoke pieces production.  At a time of mass production, the product origin is often vague, far from our territories and our values. Today, I wish to go further in this process of enhancing hand intelligence and unique know-how, while producing ethically and locally. In this spirit I develop a range of objects in small series, with clean shapes, through which I claim this attachment to natural and sustainable materials, a timeless design far from industrial standard. All these objects are manufactured in France or in Europe, as close as possible to the places of the raw materials production, by craftsmen with outstanding know-how. 
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