Covet EDITED;BY;ARIANNE;NARDO
Before it appeared on bottles of conditioner or in
promotions for tacky celebrity clothing, glamour was
astral and absolute. It was sumptuously intangible;
selectively evanescent; it spoke only French. You didn’t
call it, it called you. Mary McDonald has awakened
that authentic allure without reigniting a burning
rivalry with drama. Her interiors purr, and her lighting
collection for Robert Abbey is a master class on how to
sashay past mass-produced contrivance. “My love of
French Directoire is represented in this jewel-like lamp,
signifying the dramatic classicism I am all about,” says
the designer. Flaunting a brass and black glass body,
the Directoire leaves just enough to the imagination.
Also available in silver and gray glass. For information,
robertabbey.com;
marymcdonald.com
The world of fables swells vividly in inky skies
and twisting phantasmagoria. Things are
lost; forms emerge from dulcet hallucinations;
eternity can be rapture or revenge. The Rapunzel
chair by Kenneth Cobonpue is no stranger to
the enchanted forest or to the mischief beyond
it. That ravishing tumble of plum braids is a
spellbinding work of craftsmanship, fashioned
from hand-coiled upholstered foam. Cobonpue
is noted for his undulating, organic shapes, and
with this piece the tale drifts in a deeper, more
fantastical realm. Outdoor version also available.
For information,
kennethcobonpue.com
26 december ⁄ january 2012
