An homage to Finnish lighting pioneer Paavo Tynell: disciplined ornament and perforated brass. The circular motif found in his work defines the rim of the cup, tray, and bin, as well as the handle of the canister lid, and the opening of the tissue cozy.
With @communedesign .
Designed by @communedesign , the Origami accessory family represents a continuity and confluence of traditions: an echo of the Japanese art of paper folding brought into the world of metalsmithing.
Each tray, bin, and cup begins as a flat sheet of brass then is folded, faceted, and finished in our Brooklyn workshop. These are objects that carry the weight of tradition while serving the needs of modern life.
Shop now on remains.com.
Meet Josef—one of three families in the new Commune accessories collection designed by @communedesign . Inspired by legendary architect Josef Hoffmann, these pieces nod to his iconic square motif, featured as a pierced border on cups, trays, and bins, and as a tactile square bar handle on the canister lid. A tribute to Vienna Secession style, reimagined for today.
Among the recent additions to the Remains Archive: an English stained glass firescreen in aged brass with leaded panels in amber, lavender, blue, green, and pale yellow. Circa 1880.
The Archive is an evolving collection of historical objects, prior works, and reference pieces that continue to inform our approach to restoration and reproduction.
We are currently considering a limited reproduction edition based on the original antique. Interested clients and members of the trade are invited to inquire directly.
Introducing the Remains Lighting Archive Collection: a selection of past work and collected pieces—many of which are available with three-dimensional models, offering a more complete view of scale and construction.
The Archive has been assembled over three decades and is now publicly available to inform the development of new custom lighting and objects for our clients’ most considered environments. It is an evolving resource that will continue to expand alongside our work.
Featured:
A pair of German silver Mid-century modern chandeliers. Custom reproductions of a 1960s original. Commissioned by Andrew Law Interior Design, 2021.
A drawing of a traditional English wall lantern by Remains founder David Calligeros, 2019.
An antique stained glass fire screen, c. 1880.
A custom angel arm empire chandelier. A two tier 36-light Empire style chandelier with a gold leaf and black enamel finish. Design and copyright by Anthony Catalfano Interiors, 2018.
A watercolor of a wrought iron lantern, c. 1920. A historic watercolor on paper bearing the embossed stamp of the Beardslee Chandelier MFG Co. Chicago.
It was a gorgeous spring day in New York City. Especially on East 78th where we have custom commissions directly across the street from each other.
The first, a pair of substantial bronze hexagonal antiprism lanterns outside of 150 E 78th by @ramsarchitects .
The second, for @peterpennoyerarchitects ’ 151 E 78th, a pair of painted brass lanterns reproduced from antique originals that came from a Delano and Aldrich building.
Tony Duquette’s Dawnridge in Beverly Hills, shot in 2014 by Scott Mayoral.
Featuring Dandelion, California Sunburst, Dusk Phoenix, and Splashing Water: all pieces we still make to order, 17 years after the collection’s launch.
As a set designer from his start in 1941, he was crafty and resourceful, the original upcycler. He was using items such as hubcaps, chicken wire, and plastic hot dog baskets to create his grand and glamorous stages. In the 80s, he went on to design jewelry for Tom Ford at Gucci who observed that only Duquette could see a piece of junk and imagine a pagoda.
Today we are reproducing his original designs in durable materials with discrete, specially engineered fabrication techniques that maximize the pieces’ longevity without compromising Duquette’s playful essence.
Our new Origami Sconce by @communedesign was featured in @luxemagazine ’s gold list issue—spot us in the market lighting guide.
Our thanks to @sj_shelton for the recognition.
Good vanity lighting is everything.
January: reflections… and looking ahead to greener days.
Backlit Halo Mirrors designed in collaboration with Commune. Made to order in Brooklyn.
@communedesign@shopcommune
I have been thinking about Bob Stern since I heard that he passed, a short while ago. We crossed paths first when he was the director of historic preservation at Columbia and years later, I got to know him when I collaborated with Bob and his partners on a collection of fixtures, that are still “in print”. However, I don’t want to recapitulate here all of the encomiums that have been recently written about him as others have closer connections to draw on and more eloquent words.
What I’m left with is that his handsome, solid buildings are, as should be appropriate to all architecture in a public setting, connected intentionally to the continuum of architectural history and vernacular and humble in their understanding that their newness would fade. If his buildings surprised you, it was from your realization that they were not the overlooked work of Rosario Candela or Cross and Cross. He wasn’t interested in shocking people or promoting his ego through his work. He served his clients gracefully, while populating the streetscape with neighborly, durable, well-dressed additions. I keep wanting to rewrite that; am I saying they’re boring? But that might be the secret in the end: for architecture in cities to succeed and survive into the future, it needs a greater dose of humility and good manners more than attention-seeking novelty. That Stern’s buildings are very likely to survive decades after he has passed away seems like a fitting rebuttal for critics who derided them as stuck in the past.
My firm worked on some of his headline projects like 220 Central Park South, but my favorite, though I played no part in it, is the Bronx Community College Library. It fits beautifully in an historic Stanford White designed campus; again, courteous with its neighbors. It’s beautiful, soaring, and inspiring in a way that supports the ambition of students of this public institution.
Meaningful design begins with thoughtful collaboration.
Our work with @remainslighting for @miravalaustin reflects our collaborative approach at Hart Howerton. Together, we designed custom fixtures that support the resort’s calm, grounded environment.
