Rene’s magnificent notion
When Rene Lalique passed away in 1945, he could look back at a lifetime’s work that would stand the test of time, and forever place his name in the annals of art history. That a commercial brand could achieve this and sustain this envied equity for over a century speaks volumes of what Rene Lalique and the company named after him have achieved beyond his lifetime. Glass art, perfume bottles, automobile hood ornaments, chandeliers — it was all a progression from the jewelry Lalique was first known for. From Art Nouveau to the age of Art Deco, Rene Lalique and his creations were at the forefront of these movements, turning his creations into works of art that to this day are avidly collected and prized. And with the death of Lalique’s granddaughter, glassmaker Marie-Claude in 2003, while the company no longer has a direct family member involved in the design and creative process, the company and its new owners remain loyal to Rene’s magnificent notion and vision.
Lalique is exclusively represented here in the Philippines by Rustan’s. Recent Manila visitors were its managing director Roger von der Weid and Southeast Asia and Oceania regional director Daniel Ong. At a special lunch at the Shang Makati hosted by newly appointed Rustan Commercial Corp. president Donnie Tantoco and communications head Dina Tantoco, we were given an update on how Lalique strives to stay relevant in today’s market and how, while being very respectful of its provenance and legacy, the company is also ready to be innovative and daring. The responsibility of being more than just a luxury brand, but also a bastion for elegance, taste, and design, is something the company takes very seriously.
To achieve this, the ways are many, and major among them are the spirit of collaboration and the ways of divining inspiration. Recently, Lalique worked with acclaimed wine critic and journalist James Suckling, producing a 100 Points Collection, with an added collaboration with Salvatore Ferragamo who created a limited edition leather briefcase for Suckling’s seven glasses and two decanters. With noted musician Jean-Michel Jarre, a Soundboard Aerosystem with a Lalique crystal center was the result, a futuristic audio center that has to be seen to be believed. Automotive brands of luxury such as Bentley, Jaguar and Bugatti have all worked with Lalique. The Tanega line is named after an island in the Southwest of Japan — made of amber crystal and adorned by a ginkgo leaf (from one of the oldest living trees), this is Eastern design inspiration meeting Western techniques.
For the second half of 2014, Von der Weid was especially proud of the collaboration with Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid. Her Manifesto vase in clear crystal and black crystal is a prime example of updating the brand. Sensuous and tactile, inspired by the notion of fluidity and movement, the vase literally begs to be touched and caressed. While words such as iconic are often used far too liberally, the Lalique proposition, whether from the time of Rene, or referring to the current output, is truly worthy of the word. While Rene’s creations continue to fetch astounding prices at auctions all over the world, today’s Lalique is busy creating tomorrow’s masterpieces.
Masters of their game
The novels today come from acclaimed authors who, through the years, have proven that their output is worthy of being treated with distinction. Whether it’s Moore’s outrageous comedy, the intricate texture of Thomson’s writing, or Ferris’ take on modern life, these writers shine.
The Serpent of Venice by Christopher Moore (available at National Book Store) Wreaking havoc with three major sources — Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice and Othello and an Edgar Allan Poe short story — this is Moore’s latest foray into Literature Ridiculous, a genre he pretty much invented, and dominates. And you can throw in King Lear and The Tempest as source material. All done to give us a side-splitting tale about revenge, discrimination, jealousy and one very lovesick sea serpent! Mixing the characters and plots from his sources, and inventing diabolical twists and inventions, the novel is respectful of the original stories, and yet gleefully subversive. Central to his story is the court jester, Pocket, our guide through Moore’s hilarious mayhem.
Secrecy by Rupert Thomson (available on Amazon.com) Florence in the 1700s and a world of courtly intrigue and palpable danger are the settings for this new novel of Thompson. It’s a story about destiny, love and sacrifice. Our central character is the sculptor Zummo, who arrives in Florence at the behest of his new patron, the Grand Duke. Think of the Medicis and the dark side of Renaissance Italy to get a feel of this page-turner. Flitting in the background are Marie-Louise, a noblewoman of French origins, exiled wife of the Duke; and Faustina, beguiling assistant at an apothecary, who may have noble blood — which puts her in harm’s way. Zummo and Faustina share the need for reinvention, running away from pasts that keep catching up with them.
To Rise Again at a Decent Hour by Joshua Ferris (available at National Book Store) Highly driven and obscenely frank about his misanthropic traits, New York dentist Paul O’Rourke is not the most pleasant of protagonists. But as a creation of Joshua Ferris, he becomes emblematic of much of what troubles modern everyman in this day and age. Trouble arises when Paul, not particularly tech-savvy, discovers there’s a website and blog created using his name and identity, but which he had nothing to do with. The plot thickens as the digital Paul bears too close a resemblance to the “real” Paul, and is a better, more passionate, version — championing some obscure religious sect. Reading like a humorous Philip Roth, this is Ferris expanding his repertoire.
