Business France hosted an exhibition in New York this week that celebrated French heritage, craftsmanship and innovation. Called Art de Vivre à la Française, the event showcased 37 French companies that want to debut or expand in the U.S. market, including several lighting lines.
After 30 years in business in France, Villa Alice was launching in the U.S. market for the first time, said Dorota Dubrowska, the company’s founder and designer. She began her company because she was an interior designer for many years and needed the right lighting for her projects, she said.
Made of bronze using the lost wax technique, Villa Alice’s table and floor lamps are inspired by nature and animals. Her best-selling lamp for 30 years is the Olivier, a table lamp with branches coming out of its stem; its narrow-depth profile makes it ideal for console and other similar tables, she said. Finishes include its best-selling bronze, as well as gold, silver and white.
Art et Floritude creates light sculptures, made to order in Paris. While its inspiration at the beginning was 18th century chandeliers, the company now creates many nature- and organically themed items, said Lucie Bruno. Its porcelain flowers are made by hand petal by petal, she said, there is no mold.
Art et Floritude is also slated to open a showroom in Soho in several months to help expand its reach in the U.S, she added. “The potential in the U.S. is huge … There is nothing like our product here.”
Tisserant Art & Style has been creating bronze lighting and furniture since 1930. Based in Paris, the company showed several lamps and fixtures, including its 176 ‘Forever’ lamp, made of gilded bronze in a 24K gold finish and pink quartz (it’s also available as a floor lamp, chandelier and sconce).
See also: These brands say ‘oui’ to the U.S. market
