Sophie Lou Jacobsen
In collaboration with de Gournay, acclaimed designer Sophie Lou Jacobsen debuts an exquisite new collection of glass works for the September 2024 edition of the London design festival.
Following the success of her ‘Giardino Segreto’ (Secret Garden) series of floral-motif vases and candle holders, Jacobsen has created an expanded collection called “Tulipa” that pays homage to de Gournay’s renowned Chinoiserie wallpapers, composed of vases, candle sconces, pendant lights, and mirrors, all produced with Jacobsen’s signature attention to detail and reverence for hand-crafted, artisanal techniques.
“This collection is an expansion of Giardino Segreto, viewed through the lens of de Gournay’s rich heritage,” explains Jacobsen. “I have pushed the collection further – the addition of color, new forms, larger scale pieces, as well as totally new typologies in the form of lightning, mirrors and sconces. It has been an opportunity to build out the collection into a much larger series as well as experiment with how design language can evolve and transform.”
de Gournay’s preservation and recreation of traditional craftsmanship provides the perfect backdrop for Jacobsen’s innovative designs. The brand’s hand-painted and hand-embroidered wallpapers and wallcoverings serve as both inspiration and counterpoint to the contemporary glass pieces, creating a dialogue between past and present.
To curate the perfect setting for this unique collaboration, Jacobsen enlisted the expertise of Christopher Cawley, a New York-based antique dealer renowned for his deep knowledge of 18th and 19th-century furniture and decor. Together, they have worked with de Gournay’s in-house design team to craft immersive environments that evoke the spirit of Pauline de Rothschild’s famous Chinoiserie rooms while nodding to the European salons of the early 20th century. Incorporating 18th and 19th century furniture and decor from de Gournay’s archive, they have concepted a truly transportive experience.
“de Gournay and I share a profound appreciation for exceptional craftsmanship and the history of decorative arts,” Jacobsen reflects. “This collaboration has been an opportunity to showcase my work alongside a company that truly values and preserves almost-lost artistic techniques. It’s been a perfect match of vision and design values.”