table setting Hermès

ALEXANDER GOTAMA of LXE Moments joins with HERMÈS and Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta in celebrating the arrival of the New Year with the creation of two sensational table settings starring the Parisian luxury house’s bold new Balcons du Guadalquivir Red Dinne

“Iwanted a mainly wild combination of colours,” said Alexander Gotama of his striking New Year table settings. The experienced general physician and founder of LXE Moments embraced “the Peranakan culture color palette that is so colourful: coral, green, yellow, orange, magenta, pink.” Working in the opulent, 19th-floor Ambassador Suite (a perfect place to host informal meetings or private dinners with seating for eight) at Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta, Gotama created two splendid settings for Prestige: “The first look is for a formal dinner. The second is for a more casual occasion.”

The designer, who is a general physician at M. Ridwan Meuraksa Hospital, went on: “The flower centrepiece is a combination of coral peonies, ranunculus, anemones, carnations, leucospermums, eucalyptus and dyed pampas grass. I used customised candles and holders for the centrepiece as well. I chose these because they are my personal favourite flowers, and the signature of my brand is colour-mix statements and premium flowers.”

Of special interest in the settings were Gotama’s customised menu cards and place cards. “My menu cards were handdrawn abstracts with watercolor backgrounds that matched the colour of the table setting and hand-written modern calligraphy,” he explained. “The place cards were in lasercut acrylic with hand-written calligraphy. I always make my menu cards and place cards customised so that they have a more personal touch.”

The piece de resistance in Gotama’s settings was, of course, the sensational new Hermès Balcons du Guadalquivir Red Dinnerware collection. “I chose the tableware from Hermès because the design matched with my theme,” said the designer. “Peranakan is a style that goes well with red. Also, the pattern suited perfectly.”

The new dinnerware reflects the wrought iron balconies of old Spain. Strong design and rich colour, plus a variety of pieces, would make a grand statement on any table. “The graphic, bold scenery recalls the ironwork of Andalusian towns,” explains Hermès. “The sturdiness of the drawing, the vitality of the colour red, and the wealth and variety of the pieces make it a noble table service.”

The Balcons du Guadalquivir collection, in Limoges porcelain, includes a presentation plate, soup plates, dessert plates, bread and butter plates, teacups, mugs, a tea pot, sugar bowl and creamer. Gotama also chose Hermès HTS dinner knives, forks and spoons in stainless steel, and Hermès Iskender crystal red wine and white wine glasses and champagne flutes.

Finally, the glass candle holders came from Gotama’s private collection, “as I like collecting things like this from overseas when I travel. I also used velvet table cloths and linen napkins for my settings.”

“The sturdiness of the drawing, the vitality of the colour red, and the wealth and variety of the pieces make it a noble table service”