Expressive Collaborations

It’s mid-October and you know what that means: High Point Market is upon us once again. The event kicked off on the 16th and ends on the 20th. As always, Market means new fall offerings, which include a number of products by designers who have contributed greatly to our line-up over the years. We feel so lucky to have these collaborations with so many talented individuals, and not just those who design our products but those who bring extra sparkle to our showrooms during events.

Collaborations Count

Jamie Beckwith with one of the Arrow trays she designed, which debuted in the spring when furniture and accessories were added to her collection.

Jamie Beckwith is introducing new designs this fall and we’re hosting an exhibition of her paintings in the showroom on Saturday, October 16, from 3 to 5 p.m. Her new lighting debuting includes the St. Barts Blue Chandelier and Pendant, both of which are made of wood beads in a mix of white, mist blue, and denim blue hues that echo the colors of the sea. The chandelier hangs from a triple-tier wrought iron frame and the pendant dangles from a double-tier structure, both in a sugar white finish. The natural abaca rope on which the beads are strung is knotted and snipped by hand to leave elemental tassels that will flutter when stirred by a lively breeze.

Style Spotter Breegan Jane lauds Jamie Beckwith’s St. Barts Blue Chandelier.

2021 Style Spotter and Los Angeles designer Breegan Jane chose the St. Barts Blue Chandelier for High Point Market’s Fall 2021 Preview. Breegan says, “This gorgeous chandelier features both my favorite color as well as the natural element of wood that manages to give the piece an approachable feeling while still maintaining an air of sophistication. I’m drawn to the bohemian style of the fixture and the gradient of teal. The chandelier is luxe but light, reminiscent of a party dress!”

Jamie Beckwith’s St. Barts Blue Chandelier, one of Currey & Company’s designer collaborations.

Beckwith says of these new designs born of our collaborations: “The inspiration behind this collection was world travel and specifically warm, tropical locals. With the limitations of travel by Covid, I wanted to explore different Rustic materials and a mix of colors that would remind me of exotic locals that I couldn’t visit readily. The collection was based on the dream of international travel. I began with sketches and an interest in raffia that you might see on thatched roofs or even in a Hawaiian hula skirt. I tend to use materials that are authentic and more rustic in nature. I am drawn to coastal environments and these materials reflect my current design aesthetic.”

The Graduation Taupe Large Chandelier by Currey & Company was designed by Hiroshi Koshitaka.

The other two designers with new offerings this fall are Hiroshi Koshitaka and Bunny Williams, both of whom have been creating products with us for a number of years. The expansions to the Hiroshi Koshitaka Collection include the Graduation Taupe Large Chandelier, the Graduation Taupe Small Pendant, and the Graduation Taupe Pendant. Created in the Color Field tradition of the 1940s, these fixtures, along with the offerings in the family of lighting in blue, have wide rings of wrought iron in alternating hues of tan. The interiors of the rings are finished in a champagne tone to enhance the glow of the light that flows from the rings, which graduate from darker taupe at each end to ivory in the center.

One of Currey & Company’s most exciting collaborations has been with Bunny Williams, whose Malvasia Brass Desk Lamp is debuting.

Joining Bunny William’s super popular wall sconce, we’re introducing the Malvasia Brass Desk Lamp with its unexpected details that include a classic fluted shade with knob-like fittings, dentil work, and a playful hand clasping the tube that affixes the shade to the stem-like body. Included in our Bunny Williams Collection, this gold lamp exudes warmth thanks to the vintage brass finish. Our collaborations with Bunny Williams have been some of our most fruitful.

Made in the Shade

Susan Schneider of Shandell’s will offer home accents for sale during Market.

We are hosting an exciting pop-up in our showroom during Market. Paper and textile artist Susan Schneider of Shandell’s will display a variety of shades along with other home accents between October 15th and 18th. Each item will be for sale (cash & carry) so be sure to stop by and see her artful designs. The artist and shade-maker began in the home furnishings industry as an antiques dealer specializing in textiles.

These shades by Susan Schneider of Shandell’s will be colorful in our showroom.

As her antique collection grew, she realized that she had lovely antique lamps without appropriate shades. Her search for aesthetically pleasing ones eventually took her on a quest to learn the techniques of shade-making and Shandell’s was born. Shandell is a slight variation on the Hebrew word for pretty—shaindel. Susan’s tagline for her company is “things that make you smile.”

Six years ago, the artist developed a passion for marbling paper, fabric, and leather. She studied with Chen River Marblers in the U.S. but is largely self-taught. Today, she utilizes marbling techniques to create shades, leather journals, match boxes, valet trays, switch plate covers, and much more. The artist is a collector of vintage fabrics and paper, which she incorporates into her many products. She also teaches marbling in her studio in Massachusetts. You can see her at work in the video above created by House Beautiful Magazine.

See You in High Point!

Marbleized trays by Susan Schneider of Shandell’s.

Many of us are already in High Point, putting the finishing touches on the showroom so it will be ready for the energy that we love to see surrounding our products. Schneider’s popup will bring bright new things into the mix like the trays above. In case you haven’t visited in a while, we’re still located in IHFC – M110, Floor 1, which is Shuttle Stop 1, at the Transportation Terminal, on either the Red or the Green Line. We hope to see you soon!