bernardaud

Best in Lighting
Each of the finalists for best lighting is a master in their field. One is credited with founding modern interior lighting designs, while another creates sculptural masterpieces. A third produces lighting that radiates beauty from every angle while the crystal chandeliers of another have been sought out by royalty. Last, but not least, there's one which melds exquisitely cut crystal with its masterful designs

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Bodner Chandeliers
Jean Perzel
Niermann Weeks
Schonbek

Best in Furniture
The best in furniture nominees offer a range of original artistry from simple and pure to the exotic; from traditional to the ultra-modern. The styles may vary but each has a timeless quality that extends far beyond trendiness. Many of their creations are collected by connoisseurs and even museums.

Vladimir Kagan
Kreiss
Roche-Bobois
Stickley Furniture
William Switzer & Associates

Best in Glassware
The Best in Glassware nominees for a Luxist Award include award-winning brands from France, Sweden and the United States. Each represents the finest of quality and artistry while offering the most exquisite of designs. The styles may vary but all the nominees have their own proud tradition of glass craftsmanship.

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Lalique
Orrefors
Steuben
Tiffany

Best in Dishware
Nominees for Best in Dishware include companies that have been producing china for decades; some for centuries. Two have roots in the Limoges region of France, the cradle of the French porcelain industry. One nominee is quintessentially English while two produce American classics.

Bernardaud
Haviland Limoges
Pickard China
Tiffany
Wedgwood

Best in Antiques Resources
Nominees for Best Antiques Resource include the most prestigious art and antiques fairs in the world. These fairs, which are international in scope, are annual destinations for serious connoisseurs, collectors and museum curators who are in search of the best. Each of these fairs have rigorous vetting processes in which the quality, condition and authenticity of each piece is carefully investigated.

American International Fine Art Fair, Palm Beach
International Fine Art and Antique Dealer's Show, New York
Maastricht Art Fair, Netherlands
The San Francisco Art Antiques Fair
Winter Fine Art & Antiques Fair, Olympia, London

Bernardaud is a Luxist Award nominee for best in dishware.

Bernardaud's porcelain collections are characterized by delicate colors and patterns in combination with beautiful designs, making its china a match for both classic and contemporary settings alike.

The roots of Bernardaud, which date back to 1863, are in the Limoges region, the cradle of the French porcelain industry. To this day, the company remains one of the oldest and last-remaining companies to be family-owned and operated in Limoges. The insight and techniques for the production of Bernardaud porcelain have been handed down from father to son. Michel Bernardaud is the fifth generation to become the worldwide ambassador of his family brand.

Since 1863, Bernardaud has upheld a corporate philosophy of cutting-edge innovation, which has placed the company at the forefront of Limoges porcelain manufacturers and exporters today. The company uses only the finest quality 20 to 23 carat gold and the richest grades of platinum to decorate its dinnerware patterns. Both gold and platinum are specially adapted for use on china, for the ultimate in wear, flexibility, and practicality. Every year, Bernardaud uses hundreds of kilos of gold to embellish its designs, lending every gold-accented pattern its inimitable stamp of authenticity.

A trendsetter in design, Bernardaud was the first, for example, to bring out square porcelain flatware. It also offers custom-designed porcelain for individual clients, embassies, hotels, restaurants, celebrities, and corporations.

Despite the name, there is no reason that the colorful Summer Play Dessert Plates should not be used year round. Their splashy, bright designs, done by artist Zao Wou Ki, play the same role in dressing up a dessert presentation as dots and splashes of brightly colored purees and sauces do at restaurants. These splashes don't contribute anything extra to the flavor of the dish, but when it comes of accenting a dessert, some chefs don't spend a great deal of time on the 1/4 tsp of sauce that gives the plate such a finished look, anyway. In other words, you might not be missing out by simply opting for design. Sold in a set of six, $250.