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THE KNIFE RACK www.kitchenwarenews.com ■ SEPTEMBER 2014 ■ KITCHENWARE NEWS & HOUSEWARES REVIEW 1 1 BY LORRIE BAUMANN French artisans from Laguiole and nearby towns in France are taking Laguiole cutlery design in new directions while keeping elements that speak strongly of a 200-year tradition of attention to detail and elegant craftsmanship. At the Atelier du Réquista, in Sebrazac, a town near Laguiole, Founder and Director Hervé Liné is using his design skills to augment blades forged in Laguiole with distinctive handles that combine precious woods with innovative materials. The Olivier tableware collection is one of his latest creations. Characterized by triangular handles made from olive wood that widen gradually from the bolster to the handle's end for an elegant, ergonomic look, the natural wood grain gives each piece a unique appearance. Liné used the same delta shape for his Laguiole Cube Rouge knives, which feature handles made f rom solid marquetry that combines ebony from Gabon, burr maple and red stamina, a dye-injected wood. Both the Oliver tableware and Cube Rouge knives feature the bee on their bolsters that identify knives made in the Laguiole tradition. The bee is also prominently featured on knives from the Forge de Laguiole, which takes a creative and playful approach to the traditional Laguiole shape, with its slender, gently curved handle. These table knives are made with a fixed blade, a finely decorated spring, and the bee. The company also offers New Looks for Traditional French Cutlery forks, soup spoons, coffee spoons and carving sets as well as bread knives. The Forge de Laguiole knives are offered in many different materials and finishes. Stable steel blades come in either a shiny or satin finish, with bolsters in the CLAL version made of stable brass or in stainless steel with either a shiny or satin finish. Handles are in horn, bone, precious wood, the stamina dye-injected wood or acrylic glass. A new design by Philippe Starck celebrates Forge de Laguiole's 25th anniversary, in 2012, with knives featuring an all stainless steel mono block model with a handle textured to mimic the look of wood bark. Designer Jean-Michel Wilmotte brings color to the table with his creation of a model with fluorescent-colored handles in acrylic glass. Ten colors are available: red, pink, blue, green, lime, mauve, wine, gray, black and white. All of the firm's models can be ordered singly or in sets of two or six pieces. For more information, visit www.atelierdurequista.com for the Atelier du Requista cutlery and www.forge-de-laguiole.com for the knives designed by Starck and Wilmotte.