When fashion has an archive as rich as Dior’s, its influence can extend far beyond the wardrobe. For her latest Haute Couture collection, artistic director Cordelia de Castellane transforms the language of Christian Dior’s most emblematic mid-century creations into sculptural objects for the home. The result is a trio of white porcelain pieces—two architectural vases and a carafe—that translate the drama, movement and precision of couture into a new material, bringing the spirit of the atelier to the dining table.
Each piece draws on a distinct historical design: the fluid drapery of Théâtre de verdure, the softly curved petals of Tulipe and the precise geometry of Plissé. Their intricate forms demand an equally meticulous process. Bespoke moulds are created to reproduce the movement of fabric, capturing every fold, curve and roll before liquid porcelain is poured into them. Once set, each piece is carefully released by hand and subjected to an extensive finishing process, preserving in porcelain the sense of movement that once belonged to fabric.
Once the porcelain has been delicately sanded to achieve its smooth, velvety finish, the Théâtre de verdure carafe is adorned with tiny raised dragonflies, each one sculpted and applied by hand. The motif reflects Dior’s enduring fascination with gardens and the natural world, a thread that runs through the Maison’s visual vocabulary. Elsewhere, the references remain equally clear: Tulipe echoes the rounded silhouette of its namesake flower, while Plissé transforms the folds and rhythm of fabric into a permanent sculptural form.
The final stages bring another dimension to the porcelain. After being immersed in an enamel bath, the pieces undergo high-temperature firing, revealing subtle shifts of shadow and a soft, milky iridescence across their surfaces.
The wider Haute Couture Maison collection carries this dialogue between couture and craftsmanship into other materials, bringing together silver-finish metal objects, a navy calfskin round box, the Dior Macaron trinket tray and a rectangular vase with a wood-effect finish.
The new Dior Maison haute couture porcelain pieces are available now in flagships and online. Discover more here.
Photography courtesy of Sophie Tajan for Dior
