baccarat unboxes arik levy, marcel wanders and hans van bentem's chandelier series

baccarat unboxes arik levy, marcel wanders and hans van bentem’s chandelier series
image © laurent parrault

suspended and presented within the iconic setting of the brera academy of fine arts, french crystal company maison baccarat has unveiled their latest collections in an exhibit called ‘lumières out of the box’ in a collaboration with three renowned artists: arik levy, hans van bentem and marcel wanders. the intricate luminaries were suspended inside oversized crates, a reference to the original versions of the wooden boxes in which baccarat chandeliers were once stored while traveling to different locations.

the blue topaz chandelier with over 700 blue ostrotopaz gemstones in collaboration with maurice ostro
image © andrea martiradonna

arik levy multiplies his ‘tuile de cristal’ from 2013 in new forms and in a kaleidoscope of colors, designs and architectural solutions. through elegant plays on construction, the tile archetype offers any number of combination possibilities. the tiles have been enriched with colors to produce a metallic effect and arranged over eight levels like a cascade of light in motion.

‘exploring the baccarat archives and being able to be inspired by its history, its skilled craftsmanship and its expertise is a privilege. creating a new crystal object of light generates an emotion, procures a genuine experience and shows first and foremost the power of timelessness.’ – arik levy

the chandeliers were placed inside the original cases baccarat used for hundreds of years
image © andrea martiradonna

dutch artist hans van bentem presents ‘medicis xxl’, adorned with 13,000 octagons, the piece blends classicism and avant-garde to reinterpret the original marble medicis vase of the classical period and its crystal version made by baccarat in 1909.

‘for me visiting the baccarat factory was like a dream come true. through this creation, I set out to show the sheer force of baccarat, at once rich with an uncommon heritage and distinctly oriented towards the future.’ – hans van bentem

lustre le roi soleil and new antique table by marcel wanders
image © andrea martiradonna

marcel wanders has produced a spherical chandelier called ‘the roi soleil’ that decomposes the historical baccarat zenith by redesigning the contours and softening the angles. the twisted branches stretched and distorted. the crystal shades are adorned with cut motifs and are inclined to better embrace the curves of the chandelier.

‘in an ode to the know-how of the manufactory’s artisans, I set out to celebrate the timeless quality of the zénith chandelier, a baccarat icon. le roi soleil glitters and radiates throughout a kingdom of light.’ – marcel wanders

collection tuile de cristal by arik levy
image © andrea martiradonna

as well as the artist collaborations, baccarat has worked with ostro to create the ‘blue topaz’- the first chandelier that integrates over 700 blue ostrotopaz gemstones and dedicated to passionate collector max ostro. the ‘lumières out of the box’ is on show during milan design week from april 12 – 17 at the accademia di brera, via brera, 28.