Partnerships between India and France are not new – especially in the realm of art and luxury. French brands have always taken inspiration from India, and Indian brands have learnt valuable lessons from France. So when the Art de Vivre à la Française (French art of living) exhibition and conference series was organised in New Delhi from March 21-22, 2024, it was not novel, yet immensely exciting. Organised by the Trade Commission of the French Embassy, the exhibition highlighted France’s extensive expertise in home decor and furnishing, and concrete collaborations between France and India in design and craftsmanship.
The 30+ exhibitors participating in this edition were widespread across specialisations in architecture, interior design, furniture, tableware, technologies and home decoration. Among these was Mathieu Lustrerie, a luxury lighting specialist whose most notable works are seen in the Palace of Versailles, the Opera Garnier and the Louvre museum, to name a few.
Founded in 1948 by Henri Mathieu in the Chutes-Lavie district of Marseille, the Mathieu Lustrerie Atelier has always been associated with the art of the light. Henri Mathieu created a collection of lighting in the 1970s, treating lights as sculpture. After his untimely death in 1982, the workshop was run by his wife Yvette. In early 1990, their son, Regis Mathieu, 19 years old at the time, assumed the helm. Fascinated by ‘beautiful things’ since childhood, he expanded sales to the US and the Middle East.
Artisan, entrepreneur, expert, collector, designer and philanthropist, Regis Mathieu is a singular personality with a passion for chandeliers. Under his leadership, Mathieu Lustrerie has become the preferred partner of the French government for historical restoration in Versailles, the Louvre, the Hotel de la Marine, Notre Dame de Paris and the Opera Garnier amongst many others. Mathieu chandeliers are made in Provence, but they travel everywhere to illuminate the most illustrious private estates, palaces and residences around the world.
In this exclusive interview, he spoke to us, among other things, about his experience at the Art de Vivre à la Française exhibition, and his thoughts on the collaborative efforts between France and India in the realm of home decor.
LuxuryFacts: Tell our readers about some of your notable works in iconic venues such as Comédie Française, the Opéra Garnier, the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles, the Louvre and Lakshmi Vilas Palace in India.
Regis Mathieu: When you work for such an important place, it’s not work for you, it’s much more like a responsibility. When you restore and when you are the worldwide specialist in the restoration of chandeliers, every chandelier you have under your hands is a responsibility to make something well for history. So, it’s more about my admiration and honour for the culture and history of the world that made me take on these projects.
Tell us about your workshop at the Museum “Hotel de La Marine” and in the south of France where 1,000 chandeliers are exhibited from the 15th century till contemporary designs.
I’m very proud of our workshop in Paris, because it is where Kings Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI had their workshops. At that time, at the Place de la Concorde or Rue Royale in Paris, all the furniture and jewellery was owned by the kings. Where our workshop is now on Rue Royale and Place de la Concorde is where the workshop for the chandelier of the kings used to be.
We are very happy to reopen it. It’s a workshop where we work, but it’s also a museum. At the same time, in the south of France, there is a very big workshop which is also a museum that the public visits. Here, there is a museum of the history of chandeliers, where we display 1,000 different chandeliers, explaining the chandeliers from the Middle Ages up to today.
What has been your experience at the Art de Vivre à la Française exhibition and conference in New Delhi?
We are elated to be a part of this event. Art de Vivre à la Française in Delhi was very well organised. We had a great time interacting with the French Ambassador in India, and our interaction revolved around light making and the future of brands like ours in India. We had a great panel discussion on the second day discussing the history of design as well as how with the younger generation stepping in, what we can look forward to now. We also had some Indian designers like Gaurav Gupta and Aparna Kaushik who joined us in the discussion.
I also liked how the French Embassy mixed the French brands. It’s easier for us to show our chandeliers with the beautiful embroidery work by Lesage Intérieurs and wood panels by Féau Boiseries. People all across the world recognise the style of Louis XIV and Louis XV.
What are your thoughts on the collaborative efforts between France and India in the realm of home decor?
The collaboration between France and India, for me, is very natural. For 25 years now, I have been coming to India to buy precious stones that I used for my chandeliers, and now I sell chandeliers in India. Indians are excellent for know-how and handicrafts.
What are your plans for the future?
My daughter is now starting to run the business for the next generation. She loves India, and her first job was in India, at Vastrakala, where she did embroidery work with Chanel and Jean-François Lesage. I’m sure she will develop much of our collaboration, buying things from India, using the know-how and history of Indians, the inspiration for India, and also share with Indians the art de vivre à la française, the chandelier, the way we manufacture the chandelier, and all the models that we create in France that have gained love from all around the world.