Lucie Roy and Claire Lange met during their training at the European Centre for Research and Training in Glass Arts (Cerfav). After assisting master glassmakers in Spain and Italy, they established their first cooperative in Lorraine with three other young female glass artists. Ilaké, their second atelier, was opened in 2020 in Saint-Laurent-du-Cros, Champsaur. Their desire to live in the mountains and closer to nature guided their move.
Specializing in tableware for chefs, they view their plates as a 'casing for their dishes.' This vision combines their passion for creation and gastronomy. The designs on their plates are inspired by the flora of the Hautes-Alpes, a source of inspiration that resonates with the local chefs' use of wild edible plants.
The creation process is collaborative. After an in-depth discussion with the chef to understand their desires, Ilaké proposes several graphic designs, often based on photographs of local plants taken by the artisans. Once a design is approved, a screen printing stencil is created to transfer the sketch onto the glass. Various samples are then made before final production. The creation of a single plate, from cutting two-millimeter thick glass sheets to the final firing for a matte or satin finish, takes four days. The atelier has benefited from the assistance of Quentin, their workshop manager, for the past year.
Among their notable creations, Lucie Roy mentions a plate for chef Thomas Prod’homme (Baumanière 1850 restaurant in Courchevel) that illustrates melting ice, an original and narrative idea. Claire Lange also recalls a plate for chef Michel Bras, inspired by an emblematic plant from Aubrac, his native region, which is also found in the Hautes-Alpes. This design took at least six months to agree upon, leaving them with a very enriching memory of his relationship with nature.
A four-month artistic residency in Japan allowed Ilaké to pursue their research. Tableware holds a significant place in Japanese gastronomy, with some establishments dedicating each month to a specific service featuring seasonal motifs, which greatly inspired the artisans. Their upcoming projects include producing and exhibiting the pieces designed in Japan and locally, as well as developing a process to grind and reuse their glass scraps to create a new range of colors.
