For a fantasy-filled festive season, Diptyque invites you to explore the fairytale world of felt along with Lucy Sparrow, the Maison’s guest artist for its holiday collection. Drawing inspiration from the creative spirit of Diptyque and its founders’ fondness for the playful use of materials, this collaboration is an exuberant rein- vention of the symbols of wintertime and the icons of the Maison in the context of a craft-based pop aesthetic.
Lucy Sparrow’s reputation was built on installations that featured thousands of replicas of everyday objects, all hand-sewn in felt. Now, the contemporary English artist is the special guest for Diptyque’s annual festive collection, adding a fresh chapter to the tale of the artistic collaborations so fundamental to the Maison. Known for a distinctive approach that blends art with craftsmanship and for the pop aesthetic she brings to felt, Lucy Sparrow has made this sensual, colourful material her principal medium of expression. Adding the dash of eccentricity that typifies her original works, she transforms the real world into a universe of enchantment and delight.
For Diptyque, Lucy Sparrow translates reality into a magical, festive world, appropriating both the symbols of winter - the pine tree, the pine cone, the gingerbread man, the candy cane, the star, and the icons of the Maison - the perfume bottle and the historic candle. In this year’s upcoming festivities, felt features prominently both as a decoration and as a material. No medium is better suited to conjuring up the spirit of childhood and the magic of Christmas. Now, felt transforms boutiques and their interiors into oases of softness, lending its colours to the holiday collection.
It goes without saying that felt can be found on Diptyque’s three new special edition festive candles. Their scents – Sapin (Pine Tree), Étoile (Star) and Friandise (Sweet Treat) – can be identified from the dancing letters in gold type. The Sapin (Pine Tree) fragrance, reinvented annually but always recognisable by its dark green colouring, this year emphasises the essence of Siberian pine and the resinous notes of balsam fir. It evokes fresh pine needles and a softwood tree, newly cut and ready for decoration, plus notes of cedar and Indonesian patchouli. The midnight blue Étoile (Star) candle suggests a star twinkling in a winter sky via a woody scent that is floral and cottony, offering rosy notes blended with notes of sandalwood, mimosa and iris. The deep red of the Friandise (Sweet Treat) candle tempts us into a mouth-watering universe. Here, gingerbread is elevated by a blend of cinnamon and star anise, of candied orange and vanilla.
The Advent Calendar
This year's Diptyque advent calendar takes the shape of a sewing box – a clear echo of the world of artist Lucy Sparrow – and conceals an assortment of 25 surprises. Among the contents of its many colourful compartments you will find three new arrivals: the Sapin (Pine Tree) candle in a 70g format and the Étoile (Star) and Friandise (Sweet Treat) candles in a 35g format. Also included in the selection are personal products and products for the home (10ml eaux de parfum, the small odour removing home fragrance with basil, the miniature odour removing candle with basil, deco- rative pendants etc). Shop the advent calendar now in store at 107 New Bond Street.
Festive decorations
Discover a selection of limited edition creations inspired by the pine tree's iconic shape and distinctive colour. Hand-blown glass candle holders, candle sleeves made of metallised leather with festive gold, or of green felt that conjures up the wondrous world of Lucy Sparrow. The wax candle holder, hand-crafted in Portugal, evokes the Maison’s wax-making expertise and is decorated with a design depicting the branches of green fir trees.
The black Bakelite lid, designed to protect the classic candle, is decorated with a miniature pine tree made of golden metal and hand-sculpted using the melted wax casting technique. Gold surrounds and enhances the Diptyque flame, adding the finishing touch to the festive atmosphere. Take for example the 1 000 Flames reflecting candle stand and the infi- nite images of flame found in its brass mirror, or the limited edition Golden Constellation candle holder.
Lastly, the motifs and characters created by Lucy Sparrow for Diptyque (the star, the pine tree, the gingerbread man and the stocking) reappear in a selection of limited editions to grace the festive tree or table. To complete the picture, they also appear inside a series of baubles made of hand-blown glass – just right for hanging from the branches of the tree.
Head to the Diptyque store to get into the festive spirit and discover the magical world of Lucy Sparrow and the wonderful Diptyque products at 107 New Bond Street.