Objects of Desire

The Wick Culture - 1972 Print Silk Scarf, by London-based textile designer Amelia Graham

Object 1972 Print Silk Scarf

1972 Print Silk Scarf
£125

We all love a multi-purpose summer accessory, and this print silk scarf is top of our list. Tie it around your neck or the handle of your bag and give white summer dresses a dose of blue-sky colour. Produced by London-based textile designer Amelia Graham, it features a geometric print inspired by the brutalist architecture from her 70s series. Made from 100% silk crepe de chine and finished with a pin hem, it will be your constant companion as the weather gets warmer. Add to basket now.

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The Wick Culture - Untitled (Brush Disguise with Flower and Bow Tie) by Ella Kruglyanskaya, 2023

Object Untitled (Brush Disguise with Flower and Bow Tie) by Ella Kruglyanskaya, 2023

Untitled (Brush Disguise with Flower and Bow Tie) by Ella Kruglyanskaya, 2023
£500

The Latvian-born, New York-based painter Ella Kruglyanskaya is best known for her stylized depictions of female figures in absurd scenarios, from committing robberies and alligator fighting to crawling on the floor. ‘Humour is really important in my work,’ she has explained. ‘There is something quite modern in this attitude that we don’t take ourselves so seriously.’

In this new edition series created exclusively for the House of Voltaire, Kruglyanskaya has combined placed objects, drawings and cut-out elements, which have been photographed by Mark Woods. Executed in 2023, this untitled giclee print depicts a woman wearing a checked bow tie. In typical Kruglyanskaya fashion, the two brushes, flower and woman’s rosy, red cheeks add an intriguing dose of absurdity to the composition.

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The Wick Culture - Bella Freud Ciao Candle

Object Bella Freud Ciao Candle

Bella Freud Ciao Candle
£41

With notes of fig leaf, orange blossom and vetiver, Bella Freud’s Ciao candle will whisk you somewhere sunny. Plus, it has a charming backstory. Freud first met the late Anita Pallenberg in 1983 while she was living in Rome. ‘We forged a bond like two school friends,’ she has said of their close friendship. Years later, the pair met at Anita’s flat where they were discussing the word ‘ciao’. Freud misspelt the word so Pallenberg wrote it out for her on a yellow envelope that was lying around. ‘It was so immediate and beautiful, like Pop Art,’ Freud has said. ‘It is framed and I keep on my desk.’ This exchange inspired Freud’s popular Ciao range which includes this gorgeous scented candle. Could there be a more perfect house gift for friends or family this summer?

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The Wick Culture - Object Portraits by Richard Avedon

Object Portraits by Richard Avedon

Portraits by Richard Avedon
£250

Richard Avedon first came to prominence in the 1940s when he began working as a photographer for Harper’s Bazaar. Over the next sixty years or so, he worked for fashion’s glossiest titles, capturing such famous faces as Marilyn Monroe, Twiggy and Barbara Streisand. ‘My photographs don’t go below the surface. I have great faith in surfaces,’ he once said. ‘A good one is full of clues.’ First published in 1976, Portraits includes an introductory essay by Harold Rosenberg as well as intimate black-and-white portraits of models, writers, actresses, politicians and members of the public. Flick through and you’ll come face to face with Renata Adler, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and the Everly Brothers, among others.

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The Wick Culture - Object Calder Circle Crossbody Bag

Object Calder Circle Crossbody Bag

Calder Circle Crossbody Bag
£665

Let this tanned leather crossbody bag become your new everyday staple, preferably in combination with a summery white dress and oversized shades. Developed in collaboration with the Calder Foundation and blue-chip gallery Hauser & Wirth, the Calder Circle has canvas interior, zip closure and detachable adjustable shoulder strap. We particularly love the red stripe detail and Calder motifs emblazoned on its front and back. Go on, treat yourself to this mini piece of wearable art this summer.

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The Wick Culture - Object Orun Throw by Yinka Ilori

Object Orun Throw by Yinka Ilori

Orun Throw by Yinka Ilori
£165

British designer Yinka Ilori is synonymous with geometric patterns and bright, bold colours, as seen in this reversible cotton throw featuring two vibrant artwork options and Yinka’s favourite colour combination of yellow, pink, blue and green. Made using a durable jacquard cotton weave, the Orun can be used as a lightweight cover-up or even as an impromptu picnic blanket. With lazy, alfresco lunches fast becoming a reality, it’s time to add this technicolour work of art to your wardrobe.

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The Wick Culture - Object Quilted Blanket, Sharon Williams & Cassandra Pettway

Object Quilted Blanket, Sharon Williams & Cassandra Pettway

Quilted Blanket, Sharon Williams & Cassandra Pettway
£25,000

We can’t keep our eyes off this patchwork quilt made by Sharon Williams and Cassandra Pettway, artisans of the Gee’s Bend community of Black women quilters in Alabama. Conceived in collaboration with luxury British fashion label Marfa Stance, it is part of a collection of works made from a combination of leftover Marfa Stance fabrics and fabrics found by the artists themselves. The distinctive Gee’s Bend geometric design was applied with traditional quilt piecing and sewing techniques, overlaid by Marfa Stance’s signature ‘onion’ topstitch. This quilt took over a week to make by hand and bears the moniker of its makers — an investment piece to treasure forever.

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The Wick Culture - Object Katharina Grosse x Parley Ocean Tote Bag

Object Katharina Grosse x Parley Ocean Tote Bag

Katharina Grosse x Parley Ocean Tote Bag
$50

The German artist Katharina Grosse is best known for her explosive use of colour. Using a spray gun as her painting tool, she creates large-scale abstract paintings streaked with a spectrum of vibrant colours. She’s also spray-painted interior and exterior spaces such as the Contemporary Arts Museum in Houston and a derelict aquatic centre in New York. Now, she’s teamed up with Parley to create a limited-edition reusable tote bag featuring her signature streaks of colour. Each bag is produced from approximately five plastic bottles and funds the removal of twenty pounds of plastic debris from the ocean. Plus, sale proceeds from the tote support Parley’s work to protect the oceans and end marine plastic pollution.

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The Wick Culture - Object Yayoi Kusama The Joy I Feel Handkerchief

Object Yayoi Kusama The Joy I Feel Handkerchief

Yayoi Kusama The Joy I Feel Handkerchief
£28

The art of Yayoi Kusama is instantly recognisable. Her signature dots, pumpkins and bold, vibrant colours characterise her paintings, sculptures and infinity rooms. Designed in collaboration with Kusama, this cotton handkerchief with hand-rolled edges is printed with a design taken from her work titled Joy I Feel When Love Has Blossomed. The vibrant canvas features some of her best-known motifs, including dots, faces, eyes and tentacles. Look closely at the edges of this handkerchief and you’ll also find two cups and saucers. It can also be used as a pocket square or wall-hanging – perfect for the Kusama lover in your life.

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