LIGHT SHADOW

For its second rendezvous of the year, Diptyque continues its exploration of all the imaginary worlds conjured up by the candle with a summer collection, oriented toward the outdoors and clad in dazzling shades of yellow.

Issued in limited editions, showcasing the dancing shadows of light, these objects evoke the luminous solar aspect of the candle, its soothing radiance, and the playful illusions created by its flame in the dark.

Representing the change from the long summer days into the balmy, blissful nights, French designer Sam Baron, renowned for imbuing everyday objects with a touch of magic, imagined the “Rays” motif, evoking the graphic interplay of shadows and light through reeds or leaves, for the range of summer products. This magic is perfectly represented in the golden yellow hues he has used to decorate a set of coasters and the lampshade of the Maison’s iconic lantern. Handicraft - a key element in Diptyque creations - is another unifying thread in the collection. Each of the objects, made in France and Portugal, is a contribution to the vitality of European expertise, beckoning us to journey to the heart of this unmatched, intangible heritage.

In Puy-l’Évêque, in the Lot department (France), the traditional manufacturer Virebent continues to produce fine, artistic porcelain. Here, it has drawn on its expertise to conceive two water jugs and a tumbler, all realised in biscuit and enamelled porcelain. Situated in

Nevers and now managed by the fourth generation, the Faïencerie Georges pottery works - a further jewel in the crown of fine French craftsmanship - has created a pair of plates, one yellow and one white, decorated with a motif depicting a fork casting a long black shadow. The Medicis vase, designed in a sunny shade of yellow by Jean-Marc Gady, expands the colour palette of this collection of iconic objects. It was realised by another manufacturer, from Portugal this time: Manulena, a family business in Mira de Aire between Lisbon and Coimbra that has specialised in working in wax since 1968.

Atelier Vime, set up in Vallabrègues in the Gard department (France) by three aesthetically-minded friends, realised the openwork candle holder. It was specially designed to accommodate the vessels for the Maison’s 1.5 kg candles - a bespoke openwork receptacle for this legendary Diptyque object, affording glimpses of the master craftsmanship essential to the production of such candles.

Opening a window onto summer, playing with contrasts between shadow and light, this collection of limited series objects is an extension of Diptyque’s exploration of the imaginary worlds of the candle, initiated at the start of the year and to be continued this autumn. The third chapter will be more intimate, oriented towards indoors, with flame and smoke taking centre stage as the inspirational motifs.