Photo Courtesy of Baccarat
From the top of its hexagonal foot and its triple-buttoned leg, the Harcourt glass celebrates its 180th anniversary this year. Born under Louis-Philippe, it has survived almost two centuries without losing its crystalline aura. Featured on the tables of all epicureans, the Harcourt glass is a timeless but contemporary piece, with around 20,000 sold each year.
To celebrate this anniversary in style, Baccarat has invited Yoshiki as well as other renowned artists such as Honey Dijon and Charles de Vilmorin, to use their creativity and infuse their universe into this legendary glass. The Harcourt Show exhibition is curated by Laurence Benaïm, Yves Saint Laurent’s biographer and will run at Maison Baccarat in Paris. “That a glass as famous as Harcourt lends itself to all metamorphosis reflects the endless legend of Baccarat. The past is not erased, heritage opens the way to all hybridizations, all innovations, all appearances “ the journalist says.
One day a pianist for the Emperor of Japan and the next a rockstar and a fashion designer for Yoshikimono, his own contemporary kimonos brand launched 10 years ago, Yoshiki mirrored his own duality in his creations. From the front, the glass seems to be on fire, while from above, a poisonous flower seems to bloom in shades of red, a color dear to both Baccarat and Yoshiki. A unique creation representing the relationship between East and West. To create this glass in the pure tradition and know-how of Baccarat crystal, Yoshiki collaborated with the glass artist Kazuki Takizawa. They both performed a technical feat by breaking different Harcourt glasses to make them merge into horns and crystal flowers. Finally, to enhance his piece, Yoshiki created a video with the Californian director Michael Pessah where we see the glass bloom and enter the light.