A bloom of light: Forestier and Jette Scheib illuminate organic forms

Inspired by nature’s soft contours, the lighting collection, designed by Jette Scheib, transforms the elegance of lily petals into sculptural forms, bringing modern design and a serene ambience indoors.

By Forestier and Tom Howells for

Forestier

November 20, 2024 | 12:00 am CUT

Forestier collaborates with renowned designers to create lighting pieces that blend geometric and organic shapes, enhancing any interior space

Forestier

Lys | Pendant lamp | L wood

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Read in a void, Maison Forestier’s remit of an ongoing ‘quest for perpetual originality and mastery of the delicate balance between nature and design’ may sound a little abstract. But the Parisian lighting brand has – since its topiary-inspired inception by Bernard Forestier in 1992 – carved a beatific niche in its industry, uniting passion, freedom and discovery to fashion radiant wares that meld unique aesthetics with keen functionality, to suit a diverse range of settings.

Designer Jette Scheib joins Forestier to create the LYS collection, inspired by the graceful, natural forms of lily flowers

Forestier

Lys | Pendant lamp | L wood

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Meeting the makers

Its lighting pieces – from pendant, table and floor lamps, to chandeliers and tealights, created in collaboration with impresario designers as lauded as Arik Levy, Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance, Elise Fouin, Emmanuel Gallina and countless other luminaries – merge geometric and organic shapes to winsome and poetic effect, in robustly tactile and delicate forms.

It’s an approach explored in brilliant clarity with a new collection by the German-born and Holland-based Jette Scheib, dubbed LYS. As with her previous series for Forestier – Cymbal, Oyster, Grass and Parrot – Scheib’s undulating designs are directly inspired by vegetation and, in this case, the royal lily flower.

‘I wanted this flower, steeped in positive symbolism, to become a luminous, sculptural centrepiece’

‘This remarkable flower, cherished across centuries and continents, radiates beauty and significance,’ explains Scheib. ‘Different lily colours carry distinct meanings, symbolising purity, love, eternity, hope and celebration, making it a perfect muse. I wanted this flower, steeped in positive symbolism, to become a luminous, sculptural centrepiece.’

Forestier

Lys | Pendant lamp | S black

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The LYS collection reflects the elegant petals of the royal lily, with lampshades in three sizes, available in natural wood veneer or a striking dark black finish

Forestier

Lys | Pendant lamp | L wood

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The natural connection

In practice, this has manifested into a series of three lampshades of different sizes and compositions, rendered in warm, organic wood veneer on the top side of the designs, or metal in the moodier black versions, and cultivated raffia on the underside. The smallest iteration is diminutive: three serenely hanging folds in a compact 50cm-diameter. The medium and large designs – at 60cm and metre-wide diameters – are more dynamic in aesthetic, unfolding like petals at sunrise.

‘My goal was to capture the lily’s mystical quality, not merely wrapping leaves around a bulb but creating a glowing blossom where each petal radiates light’

She’s at pains to acknowledge that a channelling of nature’s alluring and variegated shapes – not least those of flowers – isn’t exactly fresh ground for product designers. But by eschewing a single bulb, and instead integrating LED-compatible light sources within each set of unfurling petals, Scheib has created illuminated marvels, emanating an irresistibly multifaceted and inviting ambience: ‘My goal was to capture the lily’s mystical quality, not merely wrapping leaves around a bulb but creating a glowing blossom where each petal radiates light, hiding the mechanics to preserve the piece’s poetry and allure.’

Forestier

Lys | Pendant lamp | S wood

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Each petal features integrated, LED-compatible light sources, casting a warm, calming glow that transforms any space

Forestier

Lys | Pendant lamp | M wood

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A light to live by

Crucially, LYS channels a philosophy that is as warmly holistic as it is functional. A means to demonstrably uplift the atmosphere in our homes – places the designer refers to as both workshops and sanctuaries – as well as connecting the user to the natural world both spiritually and practically. ‘Conscious living calls for thoughtful selections of items and materials that enhance well-being and connection with nature,’ she explains. By aligning itself so fundamentally with the organic materials and seamless designs exemplified in LYS, both Forestier and its collections are ‘embodying a responsibility to ourselves and the environment. This isn’t just a trend – it’s an essential way forward.’

Forestier

Lys | Pendant lamp | M black

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This collection exemplifies Forestier’s vision of capturing the essence of the natural world in each sculptural lighting piece, bringing nature indoors

Forestier

Lys | Pendant lamp | M wood

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At its core, Scheib’s LYS lighting emphasises a deep appreciation for organic forms – mirroring Forestier's dedication to creating enveloping, evocative lighting that brings nature indoors, while also giving the user reason to pause and decompress. As with any great piece of design, LYS is crafted – wholly successfully – to evoke a deeper emotional response.

‘LYS is more than a lamp – it’s an art piece, a poetic gesture,’ concludes Scheib. ‘It invites you to pause, smile and dream. With its gentle glow and organic elegance, LYS is designed to bring moments of joy, calm and inspiration into everyday life.’ It’s a luminous approach, brilliantly realised.

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