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Lalique and Galerie Host an Elegant Dinner Celebrating Exceptional Design

Sara Story, Christine Van Deusen, Alyssa Kapito, and Josh Greene created magnificent tablescapes inspired by the elegance of Lalique crystalware

By Ashley Petras
Group of five people posing together, all smiling, in a well-lit interior setting with a marble wall background.
Josh Greene, Jacqueline Terrebonne, Alyssa Kapito, Christine Van Deusen, and Sara Story. Photo: Courtesy of Lalique

Galerie editor in chief Jacqueline Terrebonne and CEO of Lalique North America James Mun recently hosted a dinner where Galerie invited designers Sara Story, Christine Van Deusen, Alyssa Kapito, and Josh Greene to create elegant table settings using Lalique crystal. The intimate evening celebrating exceptional design was held at 555 West End Avenue, a stunning landmarked Beaux-Arts residential building on the Upper West Side. Each of the designers interpreted the elegance of the Lalique brand through the lens of their contemporary design sense.

Popular motifs of the crystal house including swallows, frogs, and fish were a jumping off point for Sara Story to develop a “fantasy terrarium” for her table. “I became quite taken with the whimsical items representing forest and sea,” she says. “To me there is nothing more ‘exceptional’ than Mother Nature!” Lalique pieces included the Gregoire Frogs in Gold Lustre, Grey Swallow Knife-Rest Sculpture pieces, as well as the Poissons Combattants Vases in blue. Floral atelier L’Olivier outfitted the breathtaking crystal vessel with an assortment of florals, fruits, and earthy branches for the centerpiece.

Elegant dining table with ornate green plates, floral centerpiece of blue and yellow flowers, surrounded by black chairs.
Sara Story incorporated table Lalique pieces including the Gregoire Frogs in Gold Lustre, Grey Swallow Knife-Rest Sculpture pieces, as well as the Poissons Combattants Vases in blue for her nature-inspired tablescape. Floral atelier L’Olivier create the centerpiece. Courtesy of Lalique

Christine Van Deusen took her inspiration from the artistry of the brand’s namesake, René Lalique. Van Deusen had custom linens by Cristina Azario hand-painted by artist and jewelry maker Laura Lobdell with images inspired by Lalique’s original jewelry drawings. Even the table’s centerpiece a vintage 1970’s gilded bronze and crystal centerpiece created in collaboration with Cartier and French Surrealist sculptor Claude Boeltz, which was on loan from antiques store The End of History, tied into Lalique’s early years as an independent designer for Cartier in the late 1800s.

Elegant table setting with floral centerpiece, candles, glassware, and plates arranged on a patterned tablecloth.
Detail of Christine Van Deusen’s table with hand-painted linens by artist and jewelry maker Laura Lobdell inspired by René Lalique’s original drawings. The centerpiece a vintage 1970’s gilded bronze and crystal centerpiece created in collaboration with Cartier and French Surrealist sculptor Claude Boeltz. Courtesy of Lalique

Recommended: Lalique and Galerie Host an Intimate, Enchanting Dinner

Josh Greene’s creative process started closer to home. Over the generations, his family has collected vintage Imari porcelain from Royal Crown Derby, and he set the table with his personal trove of the richly colored pattern atop bold linens by Zak+Fox. The Lalique Languedoc Grand Vase filled with fall berries was a majestic final touch.

Elegant dining table setting with patterned plates, gold cutlery, glassware, and a decorative floral centerpiece.
Josh Greene’s table with vintage Imari porcelain from Royal Crown Derby, linens by Zak+Fox, and the Lalique Languedoc Grand Vase. Courtesy of Lalique

The splendor of ancient Alexandria was the inspiration for Alyssa Kapito’s table. She swathed her table in Pierre Frey’s Alexandrie fabric and tapped floral designer Tom Borgese to create an exuberant palm frond centerpiece for the Lalique Anemone Grand vase. Smaller Ombelles vases filled with tropical florals encircled the display.

Elegant dining setup with palm centerpiece, floral accents, and colorful chairs in a bright, modern venue.
Alyssa Kapito’s design includes Pierre Frey’s Alexandrie fabric and a palm frond centerpiece by floral designer Tom Borgese in the Lalique Anemone Grand vase. Courtesy of Lalique

Beyond the elegant table installations, guests previewed the Lalique’s Spring/Summer 2020 Collections, including jewelry and home accessory pieces, and were able to take in the wonderful natural light and gracious floor plan of the residence. Designed by Tamarkin Co., 555 West End Avenue was once a private school that has now been transformed into 13 one-of-a-kind residences, and one of the unique homes even features architectural traces of the top-floor gymnasium.

Below, see more of the photos from the beautiful event:

Group of five people smiling and posing at an indoor event, with three women in black dresses and two people in patterned outfits.
Emily Miller, Noa Charuvi, Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Sophia Narrett, and Jacqueline Terrebonne. Courtesy of Lalique

Three people posing together, two women and one man, dressed in formal attire against a neutral background.
Kate O’Dorisio, James Mun, and Laura Lobdell. Courtesy of Lalique

Colorful floral arrangements and decorative vases displayed on a windowsill with a cityscape backdrop.
Pieces from Lalique’s Spring/Summer 2020 Collection. Courtesy of Lalique

Two people standing indoors, both holding wine glasses and smiling, with a dinner table and large windows in the background.
Sarah Gargano and Gwen Carlton. Courtesy of Lalique

Frosted glass bear figurines on a moss-covered pedestal in a gallery setting.
Lalique’s Panda Collection a collaboration with artist Han Meilin. Courtesy of Lalique

Three women are standing together indoors, smiling, with a table set for dinner in the background.
Maya Ahluwalia, Gwen Carlton, Christine Meagher. Courtesy of Lalique

Red and black jewelry set with earrings, pendant necklace, and brooch featuring geometric shapes on a white background.
Jewelry from Lalique’s Spring/Summer 2020 Collection. Courtesy of Lalique