Maison et Objet 2016 Paris News: misshapen glass bubbles appear to be sprouting from this chandelier by Brazilian design duo Humberto and Fernando Campana, which will be shown at Paris trade fair Maison&Objet this week. Created for Czech lighting brand Lasvit, the Fungo chandelier was influenced by the shapes of mushrooms growing on wood. bellevuehealthcare.com

An ancient glassblowing mould in the basement of the company’s factory had succumbed of humidity and was found covered in fungi. The Campana brothers used this as a starting point for their design. “When we went to the Lasvit glassworks in Lindava, we visited their basement where the wooden moulds used to create the shapes of their glass pieces are stored,” said Fernando Campana. “We noticed a kind of mushroom that grows on them thanks to the humidity. This scenery inspired us to create this piece.”

The chandelier has six arms, made from sections of wood that alternate between solid pieces and pairs of slats. The batons are arranged so each is angled slightly at the overlapping joint, creating a jagged curve to the branches. Glass bulbs that appear flattened and crinkled are sandwiched between the wooden slats positioned vertically, where the LEDs are also held. “Our main purpose is to create a shock between the formal rigidity of the chandelier’s wooden structure and the pieces of glass that seem to spontaneously germinate from the wood,” said Humberto Campana. The piece is hung from a length of rope, which attaches to the ceiling via a hexagonal sconce.

The brothers regularly use natural forms and materials in their work . They previously created an indoor “forest” of flax and wood for an exhibition in Sweden, and produced a cabinet from the skin of the world’s largest freshwater fish. “Our work has always been inspired by nature, and we wanted to mix it with Lasvit’s tradition and to fuse their techniques with natural materials,” Fernando said.

The Fungo Chandelier was first launched in 2015. Lasvit will exhibit the design at Maison&Objet, set to take place at the Nord Villepinte exhibition centre outside Paris from 22 to 26 January 2016, along with a set of crystal-shaped lamps by Jan Plecháč and Henry Wielgus. The brand’s collection of glass lighting also includes designs by Nendo, Arik Levy, Maarten Baas and Daniel Libeskind.