When Boucheron opened their first boutique on Paris' Place Vendôme in 1893, it was important that they had a space as filled with light as the jewels they created. Appropriately, it was to this original inspiration that artist Mathias Kiss returned when he created the light-filled installation to celebrate the launch of the jewellery house's new Quatre Radiant collection. Titled the 'Radiant Room', it will run throughout December at the Paris boutique.
Design-wise, it is a fitting tribute to the jewels. Gems subject to a careful cut, set and polish can reflect, fracture and play with light to dazzling effect, and Kiss has taken this concept and twisted it. The landscape he has created is luminescent with mirrors and sheets of silver leaf acting to gently subvert your perspective. It is directly inspired by the pieces themselves: the Clous de Paris element of the multi-textured ring – a pattern composed of hollow lines which alludes to the cobblestones in the Place Vendôme – is reflected in the cubic sculptures that hang suspended from the ceiling, sharpening the glittering scene with a bold edge. The confidently oversized rings in the collection, which blend Clous de Paris, grosgrains and mirror settings, are as sculptural and graphic as the surroundings they have inspired.
For the artist, whose work blurs the lines between interior design, architecture and contemporary art, it was the ideal project. His past installations, which have shown all round the world – including at Design Miami/Basel and during Milan Design Week – may be diverse, but they all have in common his commitment to reinterpreting or deconstructing traditional designs.
For Boucheron, it was also a natural fit. This newest alliance builds on the rich history of artist collaborations; French modernist Jacques Adnet, artist Lalique and enamel artist Camille Faure are just some of the talents that have worked with the jewellery house in the past. The finished results are unfailing bold, creative and surprising – take Jean Cocteau, whose head scarf design for Boucheron was subsequently produced in a brilliant gold weave, showing radiance and lustre have long been cornerstones of Boucheron's philosophy.
Kiss (pictured left) was inspired by the brand's light-filled Place Vendôme maison as originally chosen by Frédéric Boucheron in 1893
Coinciding with the release of the new Quatre Radiant collection (including the Quatre Radiant Edition Ring pictured here), the mirrored installation is a fitting tribute to the jewels on show
INFORMATION
For more information, visit Boucheron’s website
ADDRESS
26 Place Vendôme
75001 Paris
-
Out of office: The Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the weekFrom sumo wrestling to Singaporean fare, medieval manuscripts to magnetic exhibitions, the Wallpaper* team have traversed the length and breadth of culture in the British capital this week
-
Doshi Retreat at the Vitra Campus is both a ‘first’ and a ‘last’ for the great Balkrishna DoshiDoshi Retreat opens at the Vitra campus, honouring the Indian modernist’s enduring legacy and joining the Swiss design company’s existing, fascinating collection of pavilions, displays and gardens
-
Issey Miyake’s shape-shifting A/W 2025 collection transforms the paper bag into something you can wear‘Can anything be considered a garment, as long as it’s on the body?’ says creative director Satoshi Kondo of the art-infused collection, which sees the everyday reimagined
-
Boucheron’s ‘Quatre’ collection multiplies into a series of eye-catching fine jewellery numbersBoucheron marks the 20th anniversary of the ‘Quatre’ collection in style
-
Peek inside the vast new Boucheron Tokyo boutiqueBoucheron unveils its 1000 sq m new boutique in Ginza, Tokyo
-
Boucheron unveils rainbow high jewelleryThe new high jewellery from Boucheron sees precious metals sprayed onto ceramics and rock crystal at high temperatures for holographic hues
-
Lecoadic Scotto brings French finesse to Boucheron's Moscow boutique -
Ceramics and synthetic stones infiltrate the fine jewellery realm -
Baselworld 2015 tour: our pick of the best pavilions at the world’s biggest watch and jewellery fair -
Contemporary design dominates Paris Couture Week's multifaceted fine jewellery presentations
