Lasvit, a Czech company founded in 2007, is intent on giving the tradition of grand chandeliers a twist by pairing the history of Bohemian glass with contemporary design, and it has earned praise for fixtures and objects by Daniel Libeskind and the Campana brothers, among others. Eighty percent of the company’s work is custom, a third of which is for residences, with the rest for hotels such as the Ritz-Carlton Dubai or retailers like Tiffany & Co. At Lasvit’s new Manhattan atelier, unveiled in September, visitors can learn how those custom works—which start at about $60,000 and run well into the millions—come together. Working with a client’s designer in most cases, Lasvit begins collecting information on both residence and owner. “We don’t only want to make beautiful things, but pieces that tell a story and evoke emotion,” says founder Leon Jakimič. For a recent client in L.A. who is a sports fan, Lasvit conceived a chandelier resembling the Olympic rings, where each circular element carries a plaque to commemorate victories by the city’s professional teams. Lasvit’s designers take drawings, inspirational images, and other details, and brainstorm a concept under creative director Maxim Velčovský’s guidance, coming back with a polished proposal about a month later. Material samples follow, where the glass components are provided for approval. After further refinement, and sometimes even a trip to Lasvit’s workshop in the Czech Republic to meet with the artisans, production begins. Once the chandelier is complete, Lasvit sends its own team to do the installation, which may take a few days or even weeks. All told, the process can last from six months to four years. 51 Wooster St.; 212-219-3043; lasvit.com.
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An Inside Look: Buying a Lasvit Masterpiece
At the lighting company's new Manhattan atelier, prospective buyers get a peek at the process.
