Garnature

Garniture by Cordon Salon reimagines historical craftsmanship through a contemporary lens, exploring the enduring relevance of Western European plate armour techniques in modern design. This ongoing body of work draws on two years of extensive applied research supported by the International Specialised Skills Institute Fellowship, where designer Ella Saddington delved into the artistry and ingenuity of medieval and early modern armorers – craftspeople who pioneered methods that balanced functionality, beauty, and material innovation, creating works that were modular, durable, and steeped in cultural significance.

Garniture refers to a historical system of modular armour with interchangeable components tailored for different contexts and uses. Inspired by this principle, each piece functions as a sculptural yet practical artifact reflecting on embedded narratives carried within materials and the ways craft can connect past and present. In bridging historical craftsmanship and contemporary design, Cordon Salon considers the value of objects, their lifespans, and their relationship to the human experience.