When it comes to avant-garde aesthetic, exquisite artistry, and immaculate decadent design, the luxury Indian furniture editors Scarlet Splendour are a must know.
While growing up in Kolkata, India, siblings Ashish Bajoria and Suman Kanodia developed a deep sense of appreciation for beautiful things. So, they decided to combine their mutual passion for design and maximalist sensibilities and form Scarlet Splendor in 2014.
They have unveiled seven new collections for 2020, which were to be presented at Salone del Mobile. This year continues collaborations with Matteo Gibic, Richard Hutten, Nika Zupanc, Marcantonio and Artefatto Design Studio and presents new bold, vibrant and colourful pieces, putting craftsmanship and know-how at the heart of its designs. The brand also presents its first collection with designer Elena Salmistraro.
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Sacha Andraos, Lorenzo Scisciani and Salvatore Morales of Artefatto Design Studio masterfully combine simplicity and purity for their second Scarlet Splendour collection, finding inspiration in a renowned Japanese philosophy.
Based on the Kaizen concept of “Change for Better”, the designers worked with a single principle – eliminate waste while improving and enhancing the design at every stage. They created a daring and borderless style that celebrates fluid body motion. Crafted with innovative technology, local artisans masterfully combined wood and metal to achieve the desired finish. The Kaizen collection is luxurious, minimalistic in appearance and highly functional.
Elena Salmistraro's craft is unique. She looks for inspiration in ethnochoreology – the detailed study of ethnic dance. The iDanaztori collection borrows ideas from the classical dances of India and the grandeur of the dancers' costumes, revives some of India’s deep-rooted cultures, philosophies and stories with a contemporary design style
Coming up this year is the Chhau Donna cabinet from this collection, inspired by the female Chhhau dancers of India. It captures the expressive details with geometric nuances and an alluring gamut of colours using materials like plywood and nautical resin.
The founders of Scarlet Splendour have always been fascinated with nature’s creations. This topic alone was enough for them to connect with designer Marcantonio Raimondi Malerba. Marcantonio introduced the idea of "Vegetal Animal" to the world and in sync with this concept, The Forest Chair was presented at the 10 Chairs event in New Delhi.
What only began as an exclusive chair, soon turned into sculptural wonders that include everything from cabinets, chairs, sofas, stools to rugs and lamps. With each unique product in the Forest collection by Marcantonio, the idea was to bring the forest into a home. The Gorilla Chair, for instance, is an ape-shaped seat with leather coverings in various colours.
“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” Pushing the boundaries of shape and form, Matteo Cibic’s ANIMAGIC is a celebration of animal forms in andromorphous design.
The Ciuco Cabinet has a large brass donkey head that sits atop a brass and resin lined shirt. The buttons are knobs to open the tuxedo revealing a spacious cabinet within. A sculptural, decadent conversation piece crafted to make its presence known in your home.
According to Scarlet Splendour, Nika Zupanc “pours poetic disruption into the world of design" and her creations “give voice to the eclectic and intimate by melding technologies, materials, and possibilities.” Nika’s work makes a statement about feminity, possibility, and independence in two of her collections - 88 Secrets and Strings.
Inspired by the 88 constellations officially recognised by NASA, each piece from the 88 Secrets collection tells a story. This year, the 88 Secrets screen will be introduced, a tall and elegant room divider with meticulously pleated silk fabric in blue or purple.
Nika Zupanc magically achieves lightness in the Strings collection, by taking “strings” of metal, and transforming them into exceptional furniture. This year, new pieces will be added to this ever-growing range, including a sofa, a coffee table and a vanity set.
Oasis collection by Richard Hutten is highly visual in the vast desert of mundane design, the first glimpse of the Oasis cabinets stun the viewer. In an odd way it calms one’s senses, in the way all beauty does. It is sleek and utilitarian, dressed in countless brass “thorns” that allure one to its heart – on opening the cabinets Hutten’s magic works in details of tiny metal balconies and secret shelves.
Richard Hutten’s mirror and sideboard from the Oasis collection, which are highly visual, sleek and utilitarian, will be introduced to retail too.
