Sails tells the story of the sea through Czech crystal
Sailing boats, ocean waves and the power of the wind. These motifs inspired the creation of Sails, a new collection of crystal luminaires designed for Elite Bohemia by external designer Jiří Krišica. He found his inspiration on a seaside holiday, where the atmosphere of the harbour and the sight of the sailing boats gave him the idea of creating a luminaire that captures movement, lightness and freedom.
"I gradually transferred my inspiration into the individual elements of the luminaire. The crystal components, shaped by hand, recall billowing sails and the rippling surface of the sea, while the metal parts symbolise the force of the wind. Together they form a dynamic and airy composition that reveals new shapes and details when viewed from different angles," says designer Jiří Krišica.
Jiří Krišica's work is characterised by a search for new ways of working with crystal, its shapes and the space around it. This approach is close to the philosophy of Elite Bohemia, which combines traditional Czech glassmaking craftsmanship with contemporary design and original creations.
The development of the Sails collection took approximately three months. During this time the final shapes of the individual components were gradually refined, along with their proportions and the possibilities for combining them. The result is a luminaire whose apparent lightness contrasts with the complexity of its handcrafted production.
One of the greatest challenges is shaping the sails at the glassworks. The master glassmaker must form the individual sails on a glass stem representing the mast of a sailing boat, so that each one matches the designer's vision. The process is complicated by the rapid cooling of the glass, particularly when soda and colour effects are used. The glass must therefore be reheated several times during production to stay workable enough for the glassmaker to achieve the desired shape. Design versatility and customisation options. A defining feature of the Sails collection is the combination of several types of crystal and metal components, which can be connected to create a wide variety of spatial installations. The crystal sails are all the same size but differ in shape and curvature. The glass waves are available in two sizes and the metal elements in three shapes.
This versatility reflects current trends in designer lighting, which emphasise originality and individual solutions. Sails therefore offers architects and interior designers the opportunity to create bespoke crystal installations, tailored to the size, character and specific requirements of each interior.
The colour finish of the individual components is another important part of the collection. Sails is available in three variants: Crystal Matt + Gold Mica (matte crystal with gold mica), Steel Blue Mist + Crystal and Middle Blue + Crystal. The two blue variants combine shades of blue with the distinctive effects of handcrafted glass.
The crystal elements are complemented by metal parts in a matte bronze finish, which creates an elegant contrast and enhances the character of the whole luminaire.
Sails is designed primarily for spacious interiors, where its spatial composition can stand out fully. It is particularly suited to seaside villas, prestigious private residences and hotels, where it can become a striking design feature.
