PRESS RELEASE

In keeping with the company's tradition of artistry and hand-craftsmanship, McGuire has introduced an altogether new collection of lighting. Created by renowned artist Robert Kuo, these remarkable designs shed new light on an ancient art form known as cloisonný.

Kuo marries the time-honored technique of traditional cloisonný, an ornamental craft that dates back nearly 2000 years, with a fresh, contemporary sensibility to present a series of exquisite new lamps. Each handmade lamp - the result of a painstaking series of steps - is a work of individual beauty, to be appreciated for its artistic merit, as well as for the warmth and distinction it brings to any room.

In his collection of eight original designs for McGuire, Kuo has broken new ground in the art of cloisonný. By applying the age-old techniques to a variety of sculptural silhouettes, Kuo ushers the decorative artistry into the 21st century. These elegantly simple forms are accentuated by a series of innovative patterns inspired by nature's luminous beauty. Kuo then uses colors of exceptional depth and complexity to achieve a rare harmony of form, pattern and color.

The lamps reflect Kuo's use of both opaque and translucent tones to achieve altogether new color fields, with a sensitivity, depth and complexity not seen before in this medium. The integration of color, pattern and overall form results in visually satisfying compositions.

Cloisonný is an intense process of meticulous handcraftsmanship that begins with metal strips soldered in a pattern onto a copper base. The resulting compartments, called cloisons, are filled with a paste made of ground silica and metal oxides used to create colors and variations in opacity. The piece is fired to fuse the paste into colored glass. As the glass cools, it shrinks back, and the process is repeated until the cloisons are filled. The surface is then ground and polished so that the glass is flush with the metal strips. The exposed metal strips are then gold plated.

Internationally recognized artist Robert Kuo has brought the ancient art of cloisonný new prominence and style. The Los Angeles-based artist is recognized worldwide for transforming the craft into fresh, new and contemporary works of art. As the designer of McGuire's latest lighting collection, Kuo brings an unmatched level of expertise and creativity. By utilizing the influences of Art Nouveau and Art Deco, Kuo has introduced new shapes, finishes and objects to cloisonný. His work is collected worldwide, and his "Goldfish Bowl" is part of the permanent collection of the Smithsonian's Sackler Gallery.

With his collection of cloisonný lamps for McGuire, Kuo has again merged traditional technique of the highest standards with contemporary forms to create pieces appreciated for both their functional beauty and as collectable decorative art.

The Silhouette is a graceful, contemporary bottle vase form that has been enhanced with a rich, cinnabar red enamel with subtle monochromatic variations. The cloisonný pattern that covers this sensuous vessel is a free form netting of random, irregular lines inspired by the pattern of wrinkled cloth or crumpled paper. The irregularity of this pattern means that no two lamps will be identical.

The strong geometric form of the Abacus lamp is actually comprised of three separate sections stacked one on top of the other. Inspired by beads of an abacus, this contemporary shape features a herringbone cloisonný design, reminiscent of the Art Deco period. A blending of black, sable brown and jade green enamels creates a pleasing interplay of colors across the various surface planes.

The T'ang lamp, an interpretation of a classic Chinese gourd form, is veiled in an elegantly flowing cloisonný pattern inspired by grass designs found on ceramics and jewelry dating back to the T'ang Dynasty (618-906 AD). A deep, lapis blue enamel sets off the delicate gold lines of this fluid, organic design.

The Býche lamp marries the grand proportions of a clean, cylindrical form with pattern and color not seen before in cloisonný. The natural patterns of wood grain, with its appreciation for both seeming regularity and infinite variations, inspire this unique cloisonný pattern. This organic pattern is complemented by rich, warm shades of brown, which blend together to form a deep, tea color.

The Cornet, a statuesque horn form, presents a tall, slender silhouette. The clean, contemporary shape of the base is accented with a fluid, stylized grass pattern inspired by T'ang Dynasty jewelry. Deep, moss green and black, with occasional touches of translucent jade green, blend together to create a rich, understated hue.

A traditional form with contemporary proportions, the Candlestick has a soft, inverted dish base and a crisp, flared collar. The base and collar, along with the tall, gracefully tapered neck, display a geometric, chevron cloisonný pattern inspired by designs of the Art Deco period. Sable brown, black and jade green visually blend to create a pleasingly ordered composition of pattern and color.

The Palais lamp is composed of five graduated spheres, mounted vertically one atop the other, on a flat cylindrical base. Reminiscent of a string of black South Sea pearls, this form presents a silhouette that is striking in its simple elegance. A cloisonný pattern of interlocking leaves forms a finely textured golden veil covering the spheres and base. Opaque black and translucent, deep garnet red enamels are combined to give this lamp a rich, warm luster.

The largest lamp in the collection, the Amaryllis is a tall, elegant long-necked vase. An intricate cloisonný pattern of interlocking leaves covers this striking form. Black, moss green and sable brown enamels are used to accentuate the surface pattern of the cloisonný and create an overall harmony of hues that complements this elegant, organic form.

Each of the eight lamps, all generously scaled, is paired with an ivory shade, handcrafted of fine, pongee silk, especially designed to balance the various lamp forms. As a finishing touch, each lamp is surmounted by a distinct, 24-karat gold plated finial. All lamps are UL approved and, with the exception of Palais and Candlestick, are double lamped. Palais and Candlestick have single bulb sockets with in-line dimmer switches.

McGuire's new lighting collection by artist Robert Kuo brings completely original lighting designs to the fore. By marrying the time-honored techniques of traditional cloisonný with a fresh, modern sensibility, McGuire presents the design community with a series of expertly crafted lamps - each an individual object of beauty.

"From the artistry of these remarkable cloisonný designs to the craftsmanship required to execute each, these lamps offer designers beautiful lighting options that live up to McGuire's high standards," said Sarah Garcia, president of McGuire.

The McGuire cloisonný lamp collection is available at the McGuire showroom in San Francisco, at select Baker Knapp & Tubbs showrooms and other fine wholesale showrooms nationwide.