Cristal' in !

In times past, efforts were made to curtail spending on luxury goods by the introduction of the so-called ‘sumptuary laws’, and until recently, the ‘outward signs of wealth’ made it easy to identify the moneyed classes. But over the last few decades the situation has changed. The culture of luxury – of which France has become the greatest ambassador – is based on tradition, skill, creativity and, above all, the use of rare and high-quality materials. What this amounts to saying is that the distinguished nature of an item is infinitely more important than its appearance. Like leather, cashmere and silver, lead crystal has for a long time been considered something of a luxury item. However, while historically this material was reserved for the wealthy and only brought out on special occasions, in modern times it no longer denotes social class (or appearance of it).
	Chandelier made from Longchamp 17 cl stemmed glasses
This is in large part thanks to Cristal d’Arques Paris, a brand born of the industrial breakthrough  which allowed the Arc International Group to automate production of its lead crystal collections: since 1968, these collections have been mass-produced: now five times less expensive, lead crystal became affordable. Crystalware had also become more personal and intimate. The quest for the ‘true’ material, noble and authentic, was now accompanied by a personal quest: people could use crystal to give weight to their dreams and so make them come true. The notion of pleasure (and of pleasing oneself, most importantly of all) was key. The Longchamp Folies collection
It is this idea that has been developed in one current fashion: the Baroque style. To fulfil our desire for warmth and extravagance, it borrows the decorative styles of Venice and Russia, uses velvet for its sensual feel, and reveals our tastes for drama, colour and found art. It marks a return to free-flowing forms (the bigger the better), to exuberant interiors (bursting with ornaments), topped with the revival of the plafonnier and the sparkling dinner service, for chic, eccentric and fun evenings in. It’s abundantly clear that crystal is in…   The Carrousel collection The Rambouillet Folies collection