Last year, the National Basketball Association (NBA) celebrated its 75th year in business. Its success has rippled through every global industry since, from fashion and art to design and lifestyle. To join in on the festive accomplishment, Hennessy—a brand long associated with the culture of courtside imbibing—released a rare collection of basketball-shaped “Paradis” carafes designed by the renowned Place Vendôme jeweler Lorenz Bäumer.
Limited to 75 units, the decanter is made of hand-faceted Baccarat crystal with hand-painted gold inlay, held in an innovative cubic made of orange leather. Conceived by Bäumer, as well, the package design is embellished with gold markings that retrace the lines of the basketball. When open, it doubles as a trophy case, showcasing a signed and numbered gold-finished plaque.
Bäumer shared with Whitewall what he and Hennessy have in common, his thoughts on being the last independent jeweler on Place Vendôme, and what he’s working on next.
Courtesy of Hennessy.
WHITEWALL: You’ve been creating jewelry and design objects for the past 30 years. How does it feel to create something meaningful that is to be worn and cherished?
LORENZ BÄUMER: This was not a family business but something that I started from scratch out of passion right after graduating from engineering school. Not having any formal training gave me the desire to express my vision in unexpected ways. I love to create jewelry that is meaningful. They are the messengers of love to others or yourself.
Courtesy of Hennessy.
WW: Notably, you are the last independent house on the Place Vendome’s storied strip. Of what importance is working from this place for you?
LB: Place Vendôme is the magic place where any jeweler wants to be. There is no other place like this one in the world. It is a historic setting that has been associated with excellence in creation and the making of beautiful jewels for centuries. Being the last independent jeweler on Place Vendôme gives me a lot of freedom to push the boundaries.
Courtesy of Hennessy.
WW: Can you describe for us your latest pieces?
LB: My latest creations are about inventing new designs and using extraordinary materials like tattooed diamonds, titanium, olfactium, or meteorite. I love the challenge of highlighting the beauty of women and men in new ways.
WW: What about this collaboration with Hennessy enticed you to collaborate?
LB: Hennessy and I share the same values of excellence and beauty. At first we carefully select the gifts of nature. Through knowledge and time, we transcend them and turn them into something bigger than us. Being respectful of nature and of the human process is also something that is very important to both of us.
I liked the idea of using all the knowledge that I gained by cutting precious gems over the last 30 years to maximize the play of light within the Baccarat crystal. Cognac then becomes a precious gem set in crystal.
Courtesy of Hennessy.
WW: How did you approach the design of the decanter? Was it difficult to create?
LB: The decanter was very easy to create because the idea seems so simple and evident. At the same time, it was also incredibly complicated because of all the technical challenges we face: a bottle without a neck, a special key to open at the same time the box and the decanter, and a large quantity of crystal to be cut for every decanter from Baccarat’s best craftsmen and many other challenges.
WW: Basketball, cognac, and jewelry span three different industries—sports, spirits, and design. What do they all have in common?
LB: Together we share this special relationship with time: more than 600 years of know-how to complete a project like this, 250 years of Hennessy, 250 years of Baccarat know-how, 75 years of the NBA, and 30 years of my expertise. We all love beauty, authenticity, and expertise.
Courtesy of Hennessy.
WW: The spherical carafe holds 1.5 liters of cognac. What type of customers would you predict this special vessel could be for?
LB: Anyone who wants to have a special time, hopefully with many friends and who enjoys the Beauty of life. They can be collectors, basketball fans, lovers of great spirits; everyone is welcome.
Courtesy of Hennessy.
WW: How do you like to enjoy your Hennessey cognac?
LB: Paradis is a sensual and elegant cognac that delights on many levels. On the surface, its harmony and roundness are accessible to newcomers with an aromatic complexity that true connoisseurs expect. Therefore I like to share my Hennessy cognac with friends to celebrate a special moment.
WW: What are you working on next?
LB: I am creating a line of jewelry inspired by the fascinating world of basketball that will complement the decanter. I am also sketching out some new designs for one of my favorite hotels in the world—The Hotel Eden Rock in Saint Barths.
Courtesy of Hennessy.
