PHILIPPI : Margeaux

Lantern 17 cm

Candlelight today. Tulips tomorrow.

MARGEAUX comes with a small identity question built into its design: candle holder or vase? Happily, the answer is both. The PHILIPPI MARGEAUX Lantern measures 17 cm in diameter and 12 cm high and is crafted from polished stainless steel, shaped by hand into its distinctive, unfolding form. Individual openings rise like softly folded ribbons, making solid metal appear surprisingly fluid. Place a tealight or small candle inside and the reflective surface catches the warm glow, multiplying its reflections and allowing light to emerge between the folds. Add flowers instead and MARGEAUX reveals its second personality: the unusual shape can also be used as a small vase, giving individual stems or a loose arrangement of tulips their own playful setting. This handmade home accessory weighs 0.512 kg and was designed by Flip for PHILIPPI. A PHILIPPI candle holder that manages several jobs on the table rather beautifully – without even needing a change of scenery.

Light finds its own way through

MARGEAUX does something rather unexpected with stainless steel. A material usually associated with smooth surfaces and clean lines gains movement and depth through the folded construction. Its highly polished finish reflects the room around it and changes with the light, colours and viewing angle. The form becomes particularly expressive in the evening: candlelight is reflected inside the holder, travels across the curved surfaces and creates warm highlights against the cool silver. The atmosphere comes from light and material rather than an abundance of decoration.

During the day, MARGEAUX remains an intriguing object in its own right. On a dining table, sideboard or coffee table, it has an almost sculptural quality. As the piece is shaped by hand, subtle variations in its form and folds can occur – small differences that belong naturally to its character. Then there is its floral side. Used as a vase, the individual openings allow stems to be distributed playfully across the form, helping even a modest bunch of flowers appear wonderfully expressive. An object designed for both candles and flowers is also a rather attractive way of making one piece earn its place.

Stainless steel doesn't always have to behave

PHILIPPI has developed a distinctive design language across its home accessories, gifts and lifestyle objects, with stainless steel playing an important role in many of the owner-managed design company's collections. MARGEAUX was created by Flip, the PHILIPPI design team. Here, the usually precise character of metal is deliberately softened. Strict geometry gives way to organic folds, changing heights and a silhouette that looks slightly different from every angle, while the relationship between design and function remains central to the piece.

That is exactly the kind of object we enjoy having in the LIVOSY collection. Not because it demands attention at every opportunity, but because there is more to discover once you start living with it. MARGEAUX can hold candlelight in the evening, flowers the following morning and simply stand as a decorative object in between. Material, handcraft and an idea that goes beyond decoration give this small piece of stainless steel rather good reasons to stay around.

One place, three rather good ideas

Against dark wood, the polished stainless steel gains depth; on a pale surface, MARGEAUX feels lighter, while glass and ceramics create an appealing contrast to its reflective finish. For a quiet evening, a single light is enough. The polished interior does much of the rest. Used as a vase, things can become a little more playful: tulips work beautifully with the open folded silhouette, as do individual flowers or delicate branches distributed between the different openings.

To continue the PHILIPPI story around the room, MARGEAUX can be paired with bowls such as CLARA, LOTUS, MARGARETHE or MESH, as well as selected picture frames and bar accessories. Placed alongside a larger PHILIPPI vase, it also creates an interesting arrangement of different heights and reflective surfaces. And if choosing between flowers and candlelight feels unnecessary, that is because it is. MARGEAUX simply changes with the moment. Warm light over dinner today, tulips on the table tomorrow – and something rather lovely to look at in between.