Photos By Gail Except Where Noted
Snake Mirror II is a mesmerizing sculptural mirror by French artist and glass alchemist Nathalie Ziegler, and part of her ongoing series of serpentine mirrors. Born in Paris in 1970 and entirely self-taught in the demanding art of glass sculpture, Ziegler has carved out a singular niche in contemporary design by fusing traditional craftsmanship with a highly personal, nature-driven mythology. Continue reading Eye On Design: Snake Mirror II By Nathalie Ziegler
Photos By Gail
French designer Mathieu Lehanneur has long blurred the line between art, science, and nature — and his sculptural pendant lamp Guernica is no exception. Inspired by the organic beauty of a flower, Lehanneur began by 3D-scanning an iris blossom, digitally manipulating its form, and then realizing the piece in ceramic. The result is a luminous object that appears to bloom midair, its soft, petal-like curves both delicate and defiant. Continue reading Eye On Design: Guernica Pendent Lamp by Mathieu Lehanneur
Photos By Gail
Geneviève Dangles (b. 1929) is a French designer who maintained an independent voice in what was originally a male-dominated field. She is also known for her mid-century modern furniture lines created with her partner, Christian Defrance, for companies like Burov. The couple also worked on major interior design projects, including primary schools in France and planes for Sud Aviation.
Continue reading Eye On Design: Student Bed By Geneviève Dangles
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If a rainbow could sprout legs and become a piece of furniture, it might look something like the Arc en Ciel semainier by French design duo Élisabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti. Created in 1998 as a limited edition of just eight pieces, this chest of drawers is less about stashing your socks and more about making a serious statement.
Continue reading Eye On Design: Arc En Ciel Chest of Drawers By Garouste & Bonetti
Photos By Gail
Only in 1960s France could a chair double as a political statement, a pop art sculpture, and a place to park your derrière. Enter the Charles de Gaulle Portrait Seat, a surreal and strangely hilarious design object dreamed up in 1967 by the unexpected team of French sculptor César Baldaccini (just “César,” if you’re nasty) and industrial design legend Roger Tallon.