Hartea: The Cornerstone of Haute Cuisine
Hartea: The Cornerstone of Haute Cuisine
For more than three decades, Joseba Lekuona Yaben has been deciphering the language of stone. Stonemason and artist, he has dedicated his career to transforming this eternal material into a vessel of beauty and emotion. From this pursuit emerged Hartea, his sculptural tableware firm that has redefined the way haute cuisine is experienced.
Working with marble, sandstone, limestone, volcanic, and basaltic stone, Lekuona crafts pieces that harmonize lines, proportions, colors, and textures with unparalleled sensitivity. His collection is organized into three families: Design, featuring impeccably polished cylinders; Organic, which contrasts smooth interiors with rugged exteriors; and Sculpture, exploring anthropomorphic silhouettes and pushing the material to its limits.
Each piece of tableware begins as a raw block of stone, turning into a stage for a unique gastronomic performance where diners “unveil” the work according to their own intent. Among his most recent creations is a piece derived from the original marble base of a fragment of La Concha’s railing, an iconic symbol of San Sebastián since 1916. From this stone, Lekuona has conceived a tableware ensemble —comprising eight plates, a large base, and a concave lid— named after the city itself. The design invites interaction with the material in a poetic, playful way, delivering an extraordinary emotional and culinary experience.
It is no coincidence that these pieces, which the artist calls eurythmies, have captivated renowned chefs such as Andoni Luis Aduriz and Hélène Darroze, who have incorporated them into their restaurants. They also feature in private collections around the world, cherished by those who view the dining table as a meeting place between art and gastronomy.
Hartea’s creations are sold exclusively at two San Sebastián locations: the Lukas Boutique at the María Cristina Hotel and Sorgin Gallery. For those wishing to explore Lekuona’s creative universe further, his Urnieta atelier welcomes visitors by appointment. There, in a space that blends workshop and exhibition hall, this “lithic poet” reveals how stone can speak its own profound and expressive language.
Hartea
Tel.: +34 628 552 300
