Schottlander

Bernard Schottlander described himself as a designer when it came to interiors and a sculptor when it came to exterior design.

Having spent years in the industrial design industry, Bernard Schottlander decided to turn to sculpting. In the late 1950s he established a workshop in northern London, where he took on George Nash as an apprentice. From 1965 onwards, he taught metalwork at St Martins School of Art and that same year, he joined the Six Arts group at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London. In 1966, he had his first solo exhibition at London’s Hamilton Galleries.

Bernard Schottlander admire Alexander Calder and, inspired by his idol, he created the Mantis lamp collection in 1951. Movement was an integral part of every single one of Schottlander’s creations, be it as an artist, an engineer or a handyman. He developed a system of counterweights that allowed him to combine a collection of strong and flexible metal rods. The lampshades were unique, mimicking an acrobat hanging elegantly from the lamp. The shades were manufactured using aluminium, through the so-called spinning and chasing techniques that are strongly rooted in the skills of the trained metalworker. These pieces of solid craftsmanship allowed Bernard Schottlander to put his abilities as a sculptor to the test and he managed to create a spiral shape that opposed symmetry with asymmetry.

Engaged in a never-ending game between balance and imbalance, the collection reveals some of the secrets behind the terms ‘solid’ and ‘empty’. Just like the sculptures produced by Alexander Calder, the Mantis lamps look like they’re defying gravity. The poetic core of the products is an invitation to step into a world of well-considered balance and imagination.

DCW - La Lampe Gras & Bernard Schottlander

Philippe Cazer and Frédéric Winkler on the thoughts behind DCW:

“DCW sprang from our passion for objects… Objects that are by our side on a daily basis. Objects that are reliable, honest and thorough, not to mention perfect in shape.

Objects that are perfect in terms of the confines of their art, but also signal beauty and architectural generosity. It is vital that a desire to treat the object with respect is inspired - and the goal is to create a bond with the object over time… To establish a connection. A new way of living and viewing the things around us.”

Amongst other DCW products are the Bernard Schottlander collection and the interesting La Lampe GRAS series.