Villeroy & Boch has introduced a new limited edition collection designed and manufactured in Luxembourg. These products were the result of a Design Challenge contest organised in collaboration with Luxinnovation, the national agency for innovation and research
Promoting Luxembourgish know-how
With the aim of giving the general public a better understanding of its porcelain manufacture in Luxembourg City, Villeroy & Boch produces limited editions, commission works and special orders as part of the ‘made in Luxembourg’ concept. Besides reproducing historical figurines, as part of the Collection Manufacture the company also focuses on the creation of original and unique objects. For the new limited edition, Villeroy & Boch drew inspiration from the imagination and creativity of Luxembourg’s designers. For this purpose five of the country’s artists and designers were invited to take part in the competition and developed a concept within only a few weeks. From the very beginning of the process, the artists exchanged ideas with specialists from the manufacture and the company’s marketing and sales departments as well as the collectors and experts at Luxinnovation and the Musée National d’Histoire et d’Art.
Limited edition of 100 pieces
A jury composed of members of Villeroy & Boch and Luxinnovation chose three of the five projects: Luxembourg City Casket, by Anne Kieffer, Magical Mullerthal Jewellery Box, by Trixi Weis, and Old Luxembourg Coffeepot in Motion, by Christophe de la Fontaine. Perfect as official gifts, ‘made in Luxembourg’ souvenirs, collector’s pieces or simply lovely decorative objects, each of the 100 pieces in each limited edition is presented in a lovely case and accompanied by an information brochure. The three collector’s items are now available from Villeroy & Boch in Luxembourg and can be ordered online at http://www.villeroy-boch-design-challenge.lu
The artists and their works
Luxembourg City Casket, by Anne Kieffer
Anne Kieffer studied industrial design in the United States. After working in Italy for a few years designing interiors for Fiat, she decided to open her own design studio in Luxembourg. She lives and works in Luxembourg and Milano. For Villeroy & Boch, Kieffer chose the architectural and historical symbols of the city of Luxembourg and designed a jewellery box combining the Huelen Zant, the Red Bridge, the valley of the Pétrusse and the Gëlle Fra. The outer shape of her object is reminiscent of an egg, a kind of shell that protects what is inside.
Magical Mullerthal Jewellery Box, by Trixi Weis
Trixi Weis is a visual artist, stage designer for theatre and dance and prop designer and chairs the Association des Artistes Plasticiens du Luxembourg (AAPL), the association of visual artists in Luxembourg. Fascinated by nature, Weis drew her inspiration from the Mullerthal region to create a very individual jewellery box. The artist, who always likes to slip a bit of humour into her work, wanted to create an object that was both decorative as well as useful. That is why the box hides little drawers and secret spaces discreetly integrated into the work.
Old Luxembourg Coffeepot in Motion, by Christophe de la Fontaine
Christophe de la Fontaine first studied sculpture at the Lycée des Arts et Métiers in Luxembourg before working alongside Patricia Urquiola, one of the leading lights of Italian design. In 2010 he established his own design studio in Milan. With this impressive coffeepot, Christophe de la Fontaine wants to change the static view that we have of the objects that surround us every day. Through this work, the designer demonstrates the movement of a coffeepot in use while simultaneously giving a nod to the origins of Villeroy & Boch.
