(2002 - present)
Alexandre Vossion is a French designer renowned for his sculptural rock crystal and amethyst lighting, including some of the largest crystal chandeliers in the world. With a client list that includes the royal families of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar, as well as Hollywood actors and less well known, but equally wealthy, clients, Vossion has established himself as the leading designer of elaborate and exclusive
crystal lighting.
Vossion’s initial focus was as an antique dealer working at the highly prestigious Saint-Ouen Flea Market in Paris. He specialised in
17th century furniture and gilded wood mirrors but had a particular eye for antique raw crystal lighting. Unfortunately, he often had to compete with larger houses with more spending power than him and often found himself outbid for the more exclusive pieces.
So, he took the radical step of deciding to make his own crystal lighting. The process wasn’t easy. It took him several attempts to successfully complete his first chandelier. But the resulting piece caught the eye of his friends and contacts in the design world and his business started to take off.
Alexandre assembles each piece by hand. As well as rock crystals and amethysts, his designs incorporate gold, silver, bronze, and other precious metals and stones. Not surprisingly he relies on the support of a number of specialists to help create his designs. From stonemasons and sculptors to jewellers and electricians, Vossion has spent the best part of a decade building a network of skilled artisans who help him bring his visions to life.
“I work with the best artisans in France,” says Vossion. “They are all unknown and very private, you work with one who introduces you to another, but as they are the best they only want to work with the best and it is about passion, not money.”
Amongst Vossion works can be found some excellent examples of lamps with wonderfully crafted crystal bases. But it’s his
chandeliers that he is best known for, and most notably his large and dramatic designs.
“My work is characterised by big stones,” says Vossion. And it’s no exaggeration. He holds the record for the world’s largest pair of amethyst chandeliers. And he is also noted for producing a pair of raw crystal chandeliers measuring almost three metres high and weighing in at around 400kg each.
With such raw materials in scarce supply, it is not clear how long Vossion can continue to produce his elaborate designs, or whether he will be able to pass on his workshop to the next generation. But as long as he can, Vossion will be producing chandeliers and lighting designs to amaze the design world and grace some of the most luxurious interiors in the world.