Saison I: Photo Credit: Oettinger Davidoff AG

At this year’s 2015 Art Basel Show in Hong Kong, Davidoff will officially launch its first installment in its Davidoff Masterpiece Humidor Collection called “Cave de Baille”. The project was done in collaboration with Paris-based artist Lison de Caunes. The first edition is being dubbed Saison I and it is one of three planned humidors in this collection. Davidoff’s participation in Art Basel is tied in with the company’s Art Initiative launched in 2013.

Lison de Caunes (Photo Credit: Oettinger Davidoff AG)

Saison I utilizes a design technique known as marqueterie de paille (straw marquetry). This involves crafting pieces of the humidor using straw.  De Caunes is a master artist with this design technique. For this project, she drew inspiration from the similarity between tobacco and straw as the Saison I features a tobacco leaf motif design. There also is a bigger theme at play with the Masterpiece Collection. The collection is meant to trace through the timeline of a Davidoff cigar. Saison I captures the theme of growing tobacco – the early stages of that timeline.  A total of ten humidors will be will be available at Davidoff Flagship stores in the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Emirates.

Saison I: Photo Credit: Oettinger Davidoff AG

Saison I: Photo Credit: Oettinger Davidoff AG

Saison 2 is scheduled to be launched at Art Basel in Basel, Switzerland this June.  This piece will be inspired by cigar bundles that are in the process of aging.  It will be available in limited quantities at Davidoff Flagship stores in the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Emirates.

The final installment of the collection, Saison 3 will be launched at Art Basel in Miami Beach this December.  It will be inspired by the smoking phase of a cigar.  Like the other installments, it will be available in limited quantities at Davidoff Flagship stores in the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Emirates.

Each unit measures 425 x 262 x 160mm. The humidors hold a capacity of 50 to 65 cigars.  They feature a “Davidoff de Luxe” self-regulating system that absorbs and releases humidity as needed.  The inside of the humidors are made with varnished okume-wood.

The company also announced it will provide a VIP Hospitality Lounge at the Hong Kong festival. At the last festival in Miami, the company also provided a Hospitality Lounge as well as launched the Davidoff Miami Collection humidors.

Last year’s Hong Kong event was significant because it was where Davidoff unveiled the Davidoff Art Edition 2014 – a cigar that finished as the Cigar Coop #3 Cigar of the Year for 2014.

Art Basel is a festival that takes place in several cities – including Basel, Hong Kong, and Miami Beach. Through its Davidoff Art Initiative, Davidoff has been showing a strong commitment to the area of art and has been developing an association with this event. The Davidoff Art Initiative supports contemporary artists in the Caribbean, strengthens art organizations in the Dominican Republic. This is done through establishing art residencies, art dialogues (fostering collaboration), art grants (financial), and art editions (providing opportunities to create art for Davidoff releases).

Art Basel Hong Kong takes place March 13th – March 17th.