Creators of home furnishings, ceramic tableware and objects, fragrances and books, Yvan Pericoli and Benoît Astier de Villatte are brothers and sisters of the Astier de Villatte family and friends of the Beaux-Arts School of Art. I founded the company in 1996 with I started a small company without any knowledge of tableware. What I create is "an object drawn in a dream". Or furniture inspired by thrift stores Emmaus, flea markets in Vanves, finds in thrift stores and various scraps collected from the roadside at night. In a more playful way, he adds a twist to the sculptural techniques he learned at the Beaux-arts School of Art, creating household items and ceramic tableware that add color to interiors and dining tables. The result is innovative and dreamlike creations. Initially, the collection was created in the home of Alexandre, Benoît, Matilda and Jean-Baptiste's parents, then in 1996 in the basement studio on rue Daumesnil, where the house was already based. Ideas came one after another, and despite the occasional clash of talents, the adventurous activity continued to develop.
First exhibited at "Maison & Objet" held in September 1996. It was an enthusiastic success, and orders flooded in from all over the world. Astier de Villatte has launched several sales outlets and ateliers that are extremely Parisian.
After that, the original members gradually left, and Yvan Pericoli and Benoît Astier de Villatte, who were left to shoulder the future of the company alone, gained today's fame through word of mouth, without any help from advertising. I built it.
In 2000, they finally found a store on rue Saint-Honoré, close to the Palais Royal and the Museum of Decorative Arts. At the same time, it left rue Daumesnil, where it could no longer keep up with the ever-increasing volume of orders, and moved to boulevard Masséna. Natural light floods the huge manufacturing workshop in the heart of Paris. Leaving central Paris and boutiques was not an option. Under the direction of furniture creator Alexandre, craftsmen in the atelier fulfill orders from buyers around the world. Two new team members, stylist and designer Emily Mazo and webmaster William Simon, who are close friends, have since joined to create a website that reflects their unique style worldview.
In 2008, the humorous and half-jokingly over-the-counter scented dishwashing detergent became a blockbuster, opening the door to the magical world of fragrances. Team member Emily collaborates with Japanese fragrance maker Takasago star perfumer Françoise Caron for her first collection of eau de cologne, hand care products, and epic scented round-the-world travel-themed perfume candles. announced. Over the years, the collection of perfume candles and eau de cologne has continued to grow with the help of talented perfumers such as Natalie Faychour, Alexandra Monet, and Christophe Raynaud (the author of the sparkling Splash). continued to spread.
In 2015, we will purchase the SAIG printing studio, which we have had a business relationship with for a long time. Mr. Yuan, who runs the printing shop, is one of the last masters of letterpress printing today, and his skills are second to none. Located in Lai-les-Rose on the outskirts of Paris, the printing shop is equipped with a large letterpress printing machine and several Linotype machines, the legendary "automatic typesetting machine". It is also one of With this acquisition, Benoît and Yvan launched a publishing house and published their first book, Ma Vie à Paris. The second book after this unique Paris guide that sold like hot cakes is a collection of drawings by Lou Doillon. And the third book is a picture book that Balthus drew when he was a boy.
Over the years, many artists who are friends of the Maison have worked with Benoit and Yvan to create ceramics, stationery and books. John Derian, the king of decoupage world living in New York, is one of them. Renowned Japanese artist Setsuko Klossowska de Rola lives in the splendid Grand Chalet of Rossinière. Talented Serena Caronne. Others include Dana Wise, Natalie Lete, Aurelie Matigo, Jose Levy, Patch, Tse & Tse...
For Astier de Villatte, it is more than just a collaboration, it is a story of friendship and aesthetic affinity that leads to the creation of a unique world full of individuality.
From 2018 Astier de Villatte will start manufacturing lighting fixtures in cooperation with American friend and lighting designer Mary Cinder. In the workshop on Boulevard Masséna, a new space was created for the manufacture and electrification of the "Pampille chandelier".
Today, about 50 workers, mostly Tibetans, are responsible for the production of Astier de Villatte's pottery and lighting fixtures. Two people work in the print shop and about 15 people in total in the two stores and offices in Paris.
Of all the areas that Astier de Villatte is involved in, including the huge number of ongoing projects and the creation of books and fragrances and ceramics, the most dynamic is the opening of a new boutique, the first outside of Paris. . It opened in a small and beautiful building located in the heart of the old city of Seoul.
Photos by Stephen Johnson
