For those who think porcelain is an old-fashioned material best suited to tea sets that languish at the back of your grandmother’s cupboard, Bernardaud begs to differ.
The French porcelain manufacturer has been in the business since 1863, and has done much to prove that porcelain can be a modern, multifaceted, exciting material to work with. The company has partnered with big-name creatives such as Jeff Koons, the Campana Brothers, India Mahdavi and even the filmmaker David Lynch to make porcelain objects that are unexpected, amusing, at times unnerving (Koons’ Banality Series is a case in point), but always striking.
Based in Limoges, the cradle of the French porcelain industry, Bernardaud is a family-run affair – its current chief executive and chairman, Michel Bernardaud, is the fifth generation of the family to be involved in the business. Earlier this month, the brand launched its first boutique in the UAE, at Dubai Mall. We caught up with Michel Bernardaud to find out what customers can expect from this latest venture.
qHave perceptions of porcelain changed in recent years?
aPorcelain is a sophisticated material with unexpected and varied properties.
Remarkable for its whiteness, translucency, resonance and hardness, porcelain is still as desirable and indispensable as ever, 2,000 years after it was discovered.
What do you love most about this material?
The creative possibilities it offers. But most of all, its sensuality.
Can you tell us about the products that will be offered at the Dubai Mall boutique? Have you curated the collection specifically for this market?
All the tableware collections will be presented to showcase our expertise. They will include white porcelain, decorated porcelain and art objects. The emphasis will be on preview presentations of the new collections, and we will also create specific collections that will only be available [here].
What are the biggest challenges with working with porcelain?
Because porcelain is a pluri-millennium material, the biggest challenge is to constantly reinvent it and to be innovative. Bernardaud knows how to push the limits of its craft in creating shapes and implementing innovative techniques. Contrary to what one might think, our technical procedures are not set in stone. On a never-ending quest for innovation, we’re always making improvements – in our porcelain paste, our glazes and the durability of our gold trim – or carrying out various materials tests. As a result, our porcelain is whiter, more luminous and sturdier today than ever before.
How do you choose the artists you work with?
It is always because of an encounter, when two persons want to work together. We like to establish long-term relationships, and we enjoy it when artists help us to stretch our technical limits by asking what, in the beginning, seem like impossible projects to achieve.
Can you tell us about upcoming collections? Are you collaborating with new artists?
We are presenting collections twice a year, in January and in September. Stay around for the next one: there will be a preview presentation at Dubai Mall.
What do you think is the secret to Bernardaud’s success and longevity?
Quality, high standards and commitment are strong house values. In an industry often dominated by marketing strategy, Bernardaud remains true to its unique philosophy, which is to take the market pulse, then operate on intuition and experience. Real daring means following your own star.
sdenman@thenational.ae
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Find the right policy for you
Don’t wait until the week you fly to sign up for insurance – get it when you book your trip. Insurance covers you for cancellation and anything else that can go wrong before you leave.
Some insurers, such as World Nomads, allow you to book once you are travelling – but, as Mr Mohammed found out, pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.
Check your credit card before booking insurance to see if you have any travel insurance as a benefit – most UAE banks, such as Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, have cards that throw in insurance as part of their package. But read the fine print – they may only cover emergencies while you’re travelling, not cancellation before a trip.
Pre-existing medical conditions such as a heart condition, diabetes, epilepsy and even asthma may not be included as standard. Again, check the terms, exclusions and limitations of any insurance carefully.
If you want trip cancellation or curtailment, baggage loss or delay covered, you may need a higher-grade plan, says Ambareen Musa of Souqalmal.com. Decide how much coverage you need for emergency medical expenses or personal liability. Premium insurance packages give up to $1 million (Dh3.7m) in each category, Ms Musa adds.
Don’t wait for days to call your insurer if you need to make a claim. You may be required to notify them within 72 hours. Gather together all receipts, emails and reports to prove that you paid for something, that you didn’t use it and that you did not get reimbursed.
Finally, consider optional extras you may need, says Sarah Pickford of Travel Counsellors, such as a winter sports holiday. Also ensure all individuals can travel independently on that cover, she adds. And remember: “Cheap isn’t necessarily best.”