“There is no beauty without ethics” says Yolande Milan Batteau, founder and fine artist behind the Brooklyn based luxury wallcovering atelier, Callidus Guild. “Throughout history, things were considered luxurious because they took a long time to make and required special knowledge and care." In today’s world of instant gratification and quick fixes, it’s easy to put one's head in the sand and forget this truth. “Sensitivity to the people who make something–the materials they use, their working conditions–is what creates true luxury.”
This shared belief system and respect for preserving crafts has bonded Callidus Guild with internationally acclaimed artisanal carpet manufacturers, Tai Ping, creating their first hand knotted collaborative collection.
Each rug is built upon Batteau’s handmade designs, each inspired by ancient techniques that have been played with, reapplied and modernised in predominantly wool and silk, with accents of linen, mohair and metallic lurex. An impossible feat without Tai Ping Design & Brand managers Juliana Polastriand Ariana Massouh’s breadth of rug-weaving knowledge.
‘Photos don’t do it justice’ is an overused phrase in our digital age, but I implore you to visit the new showroom on Fulham Road and see the mastery for yourselves.
The new Tai Ping showroom opens from March 2024
117-119 Fulham Road, SW3 6RL
The golden shimmer of the silk Cirrus rug is celestial in the flesh, so let’s use that as the starting point with a galactic light from Apparatus Studio and star side table by Campbell Rey. Natural fibres and undulations of a Babatree basket ground the scheme along with a solid wood sideboard and natural beeswax candles. A Dimore chair meets us in the middle.
Created using ancient woodblock printing techniques, the warm gold threads of the Seeded rug cut through a sea of mauve like fantastical tree bark. Honey tones are brought out by the chunky mustard sofa bed, while an unexpected shade of mint green keeps the scheme fresh and modern along with the lacquer and chrome combinations, broken up by the ceramic ripples of the shelf. The earnest no-frills cabinet and woven giraffe friends prevent the scheme thinking itself too cool for school.
Paying homage to ancient woodcuts made by persimmon skeletal stencils, the Permia rug in deep merlot, gold and navy form the basis for an alluringly adult scheme. The solid forms of the furniture, some with upholstered elements, are broken up with the painterly romance of Colette Lavette’s art work and handmade elements of Jessica Treamine’s earthenware candlesticks.
