Objects of Desire

The Wick Culture - Objects Courts and Fields 4 by Ishkar

Objects Courts and Fields 4 by Ishkar

Ishkar provides an ethical online marketplace for artists, photographers, designers and makers in war-torn countries like Afghanistan, Yemen and Pakistan. Established in 2016 by Edmund Le Brun and Flore de Taisne, who met in Kabul while working with the NGO Turquoise Mountain, Ishkar sources some of the best design and craft objects that these countries have to offer. ‘We need to tell stories of places like Afghanistan that aren’t just about bombs and what you can read in the headlines,’ de Taisne once said.

Today Ishkar offers everything from earrings and cuff links to tableware and rugs, all made by highly skilled artisans whose traditions are now in danger of dying out. Turning heads this season is a collection of five limited-edition carpets, designed by British artist Christopher Le Brun and handmade by a team of weavers in northern Afghanistan. Courts and Fields 4, seen here, is our favourite of the five delightful, abstract designs.

£5,000

Visit website
Share
The Wick Culture - Objects Marmo-Print Kaftan Dress by Pucci

Objects Marmo-Print Kaftan Dress by Pucci

Camille Miceli’s first collection for Pucci, titled ‘La Grotta Azzurra’, is full of jubilant colour and pattern. Taking inspiration from the sun-drenched island of Capri, the Parisian designer — who was appointed artistic director of Pucci last September — has reimagined the house’s iconic motifs to create elegant, playful pieces that embody the holiday joie de vivre. Expect fluid materials, enlarged florals and lots of swirling colour. If you’re after a statement-making dress this summer, look no further than Miceli’s maxi kaftan. Made in Italy from 100% silk, it features the house’s trippy Marmo print, a flattering boat neck and long dolman sleeves. Don with over-sized shades and gladiator sandals for added glamour.

£1,240

Visit website
Share
The Wick Culture - Objects Houghton Hall Dinner Plate

Objects Houghton Hall Dinner Plate

The new Houghton Hall x Cabana collaboration is generating a lot of buzz — and for good reason. Inspired by original artefacts at Houghton Hall, the magnificent Norfolk estate built in the 1720s for Great Britain’s first Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole, the collection bursts with vibrant colour and pretty details. It includes porcelain plates, glassware, silver swans, napkins and table linens inspired by Rose, The Marchioness of Cholmondeley’s 18th century hand-painted silk bedroom wall covering. With alfresco dinner parties at the forefront of mind, we’re swooning after this made-to-order plate, with gold rim and delicate blue and orange floral design. Hand painted by Matilde Argiolas, one of the finest porcelain painters in Italy, it combines traditional motifs with contemporary edge to perfection.

£151.80

Visit website
Share
The Wick Culture - Objects The Spring Flower Vase by Maison Margaux

Objects The Spring Flower Vase by Maison Margaux

Tablescaping (the art of laying a luxurious table setting) is one lockdown trend we’re happy to embrace post pandemic. The same goes for Maison Margaux, the much-hyped homeware brand that offers elegant pieces to make even the simplest of mealtimes feel special. Perfect for the season is this whimsical flower vase. With its playful design and bright colour palette, it will look great on a bookshelf, dresser or table set for dinner alfresco. Add a cluster of pastel blooms for maximum impact.

£68

Visit website
Share
The Wick Culture - Objects Louise Bourgeois ‘Spiral’ Plate

Objects Louise Bourgeois ‘Spiral’ Plate

In 2020 the Coalition for the Homeless teamed up with 50 top-tier contemporary artists to create limited-edition dinner plates in aid of the homeless community in New York. The inaugural edition of the Artist Plate Project raised $1.5 million, with many plates selling out in seconds. For the project’s second edition, which also marks the charity’s 40th anniversary, the Coalition partnered with more than 40 artists, including Cecily Brown, Ai Weiwei, Sarah Sze and Keith Haring, on a new series of limited-edition plates. Produced in an edition of 250, this example features Louise Bourgeois’s striking spiral design. Ideal for the socially conscious aesthete in your life.
£175

Visit website
Share
The Wick Culture - Objects Carolina Herrera x Paperless Post

Objects Carolina Herrera x Paperless Post

If you’re planning to send invitations (of any kind) in the coming months, look no further than the new Carolina Herrera collection for Paperless Post. In true Carolina Herrera style, the digital invitations are bold, beautiful and fabulously stylish. Not surprisingly, graphic florals take centre stage. Traditionalists should look to the ‘embossed lace’ with intricate border decoration, while summer brides might prefer the warm palette of the ‘floral dots’. Aesthetes, meanwhile, should opt for the ‘painted tulip’ design in bright lapis. Whether you’re hosting a baby shower, drinks party or wedding extravaganza this summer, these chic invitations will make a lasting impression on your guests.

Prices vary

Visit website
Share
The Wick Culture - Objects Givenchy x Josh Smith backpack

Objects Givenchy x Josh Smith backpack

The Givenchy spring 2022 show was a riot of colour. Models strutted up and down the runway in rainbow garments covered in Givenchy logos and uncanny motifs. Some wore ripped leggings covered in basketballs with demon faces; others wore hand-crocheted sweaters featuring a shadowy figure in a cloak. This daring approach was the result of a creative collaboration between Givenchy’s Matthew M. Williams and New York-based artist Josh Smith, best known for his psychedelic ‘Reaper’ paintings, rendered in bold, joyous colours and expressive brushstrokes. Playful and practical, the Reaper print backpack is your new wardrobe essential. Add it to your collection now.

Visit website
Share

The Wick Culture - Objects Cat-eye tortoiseshell acetate sunglasses by Celine Eyewear

Objects Cat-eye tortoiseshell acetate sunglasses by Celine Eyewear

Sunglasses season is upon us, so it’s time to stock up on a few new shapes. Or, if you’re anything like us, invest in one statement pair that’ll turn heads long after the sun’s gone in. Enter Celine’s cat-eye tortoiseshell frames with black lenses and the brand’s classic pin dot hardware at the temples. Spotted on celebrities like Peggy Gu and Bettina Looney this season, the cat-eye silhouette helps define the cheekbones and can add an air of refinement to the most pared-back outfit. Contemporary yet classic, these winged frames will look just as good with a casual jersey as a kaftan and bikini poolside.

Visit website
Share

The Wick Culture - Objects Alain de Botton, The Art of Travel

Objects Alain de Botton, The Art of Travel

Alain de Botton, Britain’s most popular philosopher, has made his name tackling some of life’s biggest questions. In The Art of Travel, he considers why we travel and what we can learn along the way, while exploring the reasons behind travel-related disappointments and anxieties. The book mixes personal thoughts on everything from airports to holiday romances with insights from some of history’s greatest writers, artists and thinkers, including Flaubert, Wordsworth and Van Gogh. Filled with witty anecdotes and profound remarks, it offers an entertaining account of travelling for pleasure and how we might do it better. Ideal as we head into summer holiday season.

Visit website
Share