The luminous poetry in Forestier’s Thésée collection

It’s a paradox that as our society becomes increasingly connected through global travel and digital realms, we often feel more disoriented and disconnected than ever before. The power of interiors to ground us in the present and help us reconnect with what we value should not be underestimated. One way to bring authentic emotional depth to space is through atmospheric lighting, which, in combining illumination and form, can transcend practical function to perform a vessel for mindfulness.

‘I like to observe the signs of our society, to try to offer objects that are connected to our times,’ says lighting designer David Fabbri. He has designed the new Thésée lighting collection – featuring a pendant, table and floor lamp – for French lighting atelier Forestier as an antidote to the chaos of contemporary life. Drawing on the wisdom of Japanese Wabi-Sabi that denotes the beauty of imperfection and the geometry of Ancient Greek temples based upon the proportions of the human body, the series of calming luminaries float and stand like soothing totems in space, handcrafted out of timeless noble materials such as black marble and linen.

Proven to have a positive effect on our wellbeing, tangible artisanal gesture and natural materials are essential to the grounding, calming effect of each Thésée lamp. David Fabbri invited Kasia Woznica-Raulin, a specialist in vegetal dyeing to naturally pigment the handmade linen weave into colours including Terracotta, Graphite and Tonka: ‘We developed various patterns that evoke contemporary painting, notably through brush and dripping effects, and combined with the natural variation of tone, consequently, each lampshade is a unique piece that tells its own story, identity and gesture, as a symbol of the joint endeavour between humans and nature,’ says David Fabbri.

Forestier, which is based in Bègles, southwestern France, specialises in handcrafting original, nature-inspired lighting fixtures that are poetically charged and rooted in raw natural materials and artisanal techniques. It was founded in 1992 by Bernard Forestier, who, fascinated with the sculptural forms of topiary in French gardens, began to experiment with woven metal wire, bending expressive forms with freedom. This attitude has remained central to the brand as it has evolved, and it’s why Forestier seeks out emerging designers to articulate their ideas, respond to the zeitgeist and even dare to set new trends.

The beauty of Thésée’s layered poetry is that though these aesthetic lighting objects bring immeasurable gravitas to space, they are still accessible to specify for any interior project, whether bringing warmth to a private bedroom, the lobby of a boutique hotel, or a cosy restaurant. Since 2012, Forestier has focussed on improving accessibility with affordable prices and offering customers different models, finishes and motifs with each artistic collection.

With five colour ways and three types, Thésée provides designers with plenty of options to match or set any interior need and mood, complementing both contemporary, modern and heritage settings. The floor lamp, just over one metre in height, forms a bold, sculptural presence in the corner of a room or brings structure to a seating area. Ideal for a bedside table, an alcove or storage commode, the table lamp is a compact version of the same form, with an equally stable base and balanced shape. The pendant lamp, meanwhile, expands in its horizontality with a broad, dynamic shade fitting for a dining table or retail display.

Balancing nature and design, each piece within the Thésée collection exudes an emotional lyricism that tells its own story yet matches the same elegance and warmth for which Forestier is renowned. ‘I hope that I can bring a touch of poetry to any interior through this collection, with the refined lines and soft light conducive to relaxation, and colours and patterns that give free rein to the imagination,’ concludes David Fabbri.

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