— LEATHER GOODS —
The collections of handmade leather bags are manufactured in the tradition of saddlemakers. Daniel Heer is reinterpreting the classical techniques of fine craftsmanship while bringing out the essential qualities of the materials.
Outwardly displayed stitching and straight, exposed cut lines are distinctive markers for these works in leather. Every stitch is made by hand. In their simplicity and minimalistic form these timeless bags reveal their clear structuring inspired by architectural forms. The leather goods acquire their own individual patina through time and wear.
Made of selected cowhides from Southern Germany and the English Midlands.
— HORSEHAIR MATTRESS —
The genuine horsehair mattress is a HEER classic, made by four generations since 1907. Each mattress is build and stitched by hand. In its beautiful simplicity the mattress can be used without a cover. Due to the select fabrics its surface texture is equal to the finest gentleman’s suit fabric.
Materials
Daniel Heer brings exclusively prime materials to bear in all of his work.
Each mattress begins with the finest horsehair from the Toggenburger & Co in Marthalen, Switzerland. The spinnery, the only of its kind in Switzerland, has supplied all the white horsetail hair for the Rosshaarmatratzen slept on by the royal families of Sweden and England, including her majesty the Queen.
Leveraging the unique qualities of horsehair — incredibly elasticity, softness and tensile strength, and an unsurpassed ability to absorb moisture while eliminating odor and conserving heat.
HEER sourcing pure virgin shorn wool from sheep born and raised in Southern France. For his classic sleeping mattresses HEER uses, a woven cottonwool ticking from England and, for daybeds and cushions, a gabardine-quality wool from the Danish textile studio Kvadrat. Clients are welcome to suggest their own ideas for fabrics as well.
“Built, Not Stuffed …”
Each Rosshaarmatratze begins with approximately 33 pounds of horsehair, or the hair from more than 40 horses. Daniel Heer begins his production process by creating the foundation of the mattress, methodically sculpting the horsehair into three layers that are two feet high. Then he sheathes the foundation in virgin fleece and begins dressing the mattress in fabric, first sewing the edges into rolls to give the mattress its basic form and then refining the shape with careful needlework around the edges. More than 1000 stitches are behind a classic 1m x 2m mattress. In the final step, he creates tufts or buttons by deconstructing the warp and weft of extra pieces from the same fabric to hold the horsehair interior in place inside the finished Rosshaarmatratze.
Lifetime
If a horsehair mattress is properly maintained— with a sunbath each year and refurbishing every 15 years by expert hands — it will last a lifetime and can be passed down from one generation to the next.
— FURNITURE —
Keil stands for wedge. The technical principle behind the “wedge” concept is an artisan’s method to join components by locking them together using a wedge. In collaboration with Thomas van Asseldonk, Daniel Heer utilizes this method to combine wood and leather without glue or nails and translates it into a series of furniture – the Keil Stool, Daybed and Table.
With the Stool Heer is reinterpreting classic notions of upholstery. The meshwork is not covered, but displayed. Thus, the structure shows off as an essential part of the concept. The cubic stool can be used in different ways changing its position or height. The webbing is made of premium grade leather offering a comfortable seat surface.
With the Daybed Heer draws on the almost forgotten concept of temporary rest, which breaks down today’s dichotomy between night and day, sleep and wakeful states, while rediscovering the daybed as a place of inspiration and regeneration. Neither a bed, nor a sofa, the Daybed combines features of both: it allows for a state of rest, anytime.
The Daybed is a single unit formed by two unique parts: a fine horsehair mattress and a corresponding frame. Manufaktur HEER handcrafts each mattress and frame out of traditional woods such as oak and walnut as well as natural sleek leather, genuine horsehair and pure virgin wool.
Applying the identical wedge principle technique used for the other Keil furniture pieces Heer creates an integrated meshwork of leather straps, supple and elastic with tensile strength. It functions as a support for the horsehair mattress above and replaces the classical lath floor. An entire cowhide, premium quality skin from the Bayerische Alp regions, is utilized for a single frame. One of the oldest German tanneries traditionally processes these hides in pits.
The Table is Heer’s latest piece. Here, the meshwork is transformed into a surface with flexible wood trays, which can be set into various positions while complementing the leather straps. Matching the meshwork’s shape these trays are based on the simple concept of the wedge.
In combination with the horsehair cushion (half a mattress), the Table can be also used as a seat.
