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Here at Maison Flâneur, we’re not just interested in great design; We’re interested in each piece and its story, in how it’s made. It’s one thing to see an incredible armchair or a charming platter and appreciate it on the surface level.
THE PRECIOUS
THE ORIGINAL
Georges churns out carefully crafted lights – with serious thought given to every step, every element. Before the talented makers at Georges even begin to begin shaping and molding the fixture of the petal lampss, the materials must be sourced and selected. The team thumbs through their enormous library of materials – Lyonnaise silk, Pyrenean wool, their own wood – and selects something that’s just right. Then, guided by these materials, the artisans let things unfold organically, creating things that seem as if they could have existed all along.
Should cotton be the order of the day, the team has beautiful Normandy cotton to hand. The Georges wool is sourced from a beautiful sheep farm in the Pyrenees or from the Valgaudemar Valley in the Hautes-Alpes. The shepherds weave the wool by hand before passing it over to Mylene and her team, so they receive only the finest.
Lyonnaise silk is also a favourite material at Georges, though antique linens abound as well. The linen collection is an ever-growing one, as the team picks up bits and bobs from brocantes and surplus stores year after year. From the Pyrenees-Atlantiques to the Haute-Pyrenees to the Haute Garonne, all corners of France afford Georges with the opportunity to uncover treasures.
There's magic happening around every corner at the castle. Erected in 1852, this stunning building is nestled in a 4-hectare park in the middle of Béarn’s rolling hills. The factory – if one can even call something so beautiful a factory – is divided into three workshops. Each room is dedicated to a different stage of creation for a Georges lamp. One room plays host to fabric dyers, another to artisans chiseling brass. Creatives temper rattan in one corner, while others diligently mount palms in another.
After Mylene hammers out the details of each new prototype, a Georges object really comes to life in the expert hands of her team of craftsmen. These thirty artisans set to work in the beautiful Chateau de Meritein. Whether they’re producing subtly scented candles, elegant stools, sweeping light fixtures or earthy linens, a thread of continuity runs through their work. Each piece is pure, distilled down to its most essential form, and crafted to feel as if it sprung from the earth naturally.
They make their own magical potions, brewing flour, and natural pigments together to create the paint they’ll use to colour the cotton. Bordeaux, ochres, indigo and pastels are also used to hand-dye the cotton, ensuring rich yet subtle hues for all.
The table is crafted from Orriule stoneware. While more complicated pieces are produced using ecological materials. The team honors the natural state of their materials, leaving them in their rawest form or treating them gently (hand-dyeing, polishing with steel wool to restore shine).
How long is the delivery time?
As you've read the petal lights are handmade to order in the Béarnaise countryside of France. Manufacturing time is 6 weeks. Please allow another 5 days for delivery.... trust us it's worth the wait.
Outsourcing is sacrilege at Georges. Mylene ensures that everything is as local as possible. Everything that can be done in-house is done in the castle. Why look elsewhere when you can do it better and more beautifully at home?
Once the team creates their paints and dyes from scratch, they prepare their fabrics for colouration. They carefully paint or dye the fabrics, leaving some in their unadulterated states, and then allow them to dry. After they’ve dried fully, the fabrics are ready for the next steps.
On the first floor of the castle, the artisans work with brass and wood. The end product dictates the technique used, but they are wide-ranging and require immense skill. The team presses, drills, wets, and soaks to tame the raw materials. This union of man and nature allows them to form the petals for the signature Georges petal fixtures.
Next comes cutting and gluing. Though they may sound simple, these techniques become deceptively precise when in the hands of Georges artisans. The team tackles each step meticulously. They spread out to ensure everything is exact. Proper scissors and a good brush are key.
Though it is a detailed and lengthy process of creation, the care and attention are worth it. The beauty and delicacy of the Georges petals lamps are proof positive.
What's the difference between the Precious and the Original?
Let’s start with the basics and one of the most common questions we get asked. The difference between the two Petal lights. The Precious is made from brass hoops which makes it sturdy and less prone to drooping. In comparison, the Original is made from rattan hoops allowing the petals to drop over time. The petals will fall much as a flower would.
What bulb should you buy?
E27 socket, 75 watts maximum. The bulb is not included.
How to choose your rod length?
The size of the rod (the brass tube between the power horn and the socket) is to be chosen according to your ceiling height, the model you choose and the place where you install your light (place of passage, center of table or head of bed). Pale the original having in time a fall of petal, the tables below will help you to choose the good length of rod.
For a standard ceiling height (2,50 m), we recommend you to choose the precious version of the Pale if you choose the M model in a passage place.
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