French luxury glassware company Lalique does Christmas in July at Sketch

Yesterday, France’s most esteemed crystal maker, Lalique, presented us with a preview of beautiful things to give and receive for the upcoming Christmas season.  Staged at Mayfair’s lavish restaurant, Sketch, Lalique showcased their autumn/winter 2013 collections including the new collection of decorative items, Paysage d’Hiver, and a unique range of glassware created with wine critic James Suckling.  Enchanted trees powered by 3,000 LED lights served as a warm welcome to the vast space and brought the collection to life, dancing amongst the crystal works of art.   

Lalique’s Paysage d’Hiver collection invites us to immortalise nature through crystal to reveal its true essence.  Inspired by the Champs-Elysées leaf and archival pieces of jewellery originally created by Marc Lalique, the collection includes crystal vases and bowls in holiday hues of deep red, amber and clear.  While evoking a stylised nature, the pieces pay homage to the Art Nouveau movement, harmoniously blending with their natural environments. 

The masterpiece of the collection is the jaw-dropping crystal vase properly titled Winter Landscape.  Adorned in the Champs-Elysées leaf and enamelled platinum, this piece is the result of a reinterpretation of mixed inspirations.  In its intricate, hand-blown craftsmanship, the vase is a humble statement piece that integrates seamlessly with its surroundings and leaves you speechless in its majesty.  The Foliage vases are available in two sizes and have a smooth, molded crystal interior.  Enriching Lalique’s vintage collection of decanters, we were presented with a piece conceived to satisfy demands of collectors. Available in amber crystal, its organic splendor allows the orchid to take form as your imagination sees fit.  The collection also features vases and bowls adorned in berries, and a Japanese-inspired vase with a large amber leaf perfectly hugging its curves. 

Internationally acclaimed wine critic James Suckling teamed up with Lalique to create a glass and stemware collection.  With a name referring to the wine-scoring system, The 100 Points Glass Collection is a beautiful eight-piece, hand-made collection deemed “beautiful yet functional” by its designer.  The contrasting textures of the smooth bowl to the frosted stem create a unique finish while the heavier weight to the glass delivers a delightful experience.  “My dream of an amazing stemware collection for all occasions is realised,” proclaims Suckling.  “Just holding one of the glasses with its sensual stem and beautiful feel takes wine drinking to a different level.”   

Christianna Pugliese

Lalique’s collections are available in stores and online.