The creations of Dutch lighting firm Brand van Egmond are so feminine that, one could argue, they define the ideal modern woman by their form and shape: sexy, tough, enigmatic. Merging the classic concept of chandeliers with novel materials and forms, Brand van Egmond evokes the question of why one hangs chandeliers in the first place. Is it simply a light fixture? No. Chandeliers can be the most decorative aspect of a room's interior. Behind the brand is duo William Brand and Annet van Egmond. Brand had trained as an architect and van Egmond as a sculptor in the Netherlands. After working independently as product designers, they founded the brand in 1993 with intention of creating art. "We had a studio background, said van Egmond, "where everything is handmade. Each piece is unique in that way, like fashion design. Van Egmond and Brand work with a team of 20 in their studio, which was set up to house their sculpture creations but eventually showcased lighting fixtures and installations as their artwork evolved. Their creations have been celebrated at various events. Their work was hung at the 2004 Academy Awards show, and their "Night Watch chandeliers were selected by the Dutch government to decorate the VIP lounge of the Dutch pavilion at the World Expo 2008 in Zaragoza. Chopard jewelers' flagship store on New York's Madison Avenue also features their creations, a point of pride for van Egmond. Rightfully so, and how apropos that such work hangs in such a distinguished jewelry store. The brand's pieces are beautiful fusions of glass and metal, some formed into stylized flower heads with the most realistic formations of tightly ruffled petals. Coming in either black or white, they put a twist on classic notions of décor motifs, making them most contemporary. Their works can be placed in a context that is classic and aged, much like Chopard's flagship store, or in a modern home. Some pieces are widely spaced out horizontally, stretching organically overhead. Collaborating with Swarovski, Brand van Egmond also created chandeliers seemingly for fairies with subtle lighting emanating from pseudo candlesticks and decorated in crystal. "Inspired by the long strands of pearls worn by Coco Chanel, a very simple chandelier was made and decorated with lots of strings hanging down, said van Egmond. Inspired by corsets, laced up cylindrical chandeliers are a touch humorous and subtly sexy. Besides chandeliers for hanging, they create wall mounts, floor lamps and seated lighting. More than simply lighting objects, their fixtures are a marriage of creativity and function. To incorporate Brand van Egmond's pieces into home decor, "communication is emphasized by van Egmond - communication between the piece and the homeowner in order to recognize the value of the piece and hang it in the best possible fashion. So beautiful, Brand van Egmond's pieces are feminine in their sensuality, yet easily placed in a myriad of contexts. Art of Form opened its showroom on June 6 at Designopolis, the new furniture strip mall on the Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road. The sprawling store brings together high-end furniture brands from Italy, Spain and the Netherlands all under one roof.
