Tiffany & Co flagship features everyday items reimagined

Tiffany & Co has unveiled a collection of “everyday objects,” including a US$8970 ball of yarn made of handspun silver – all on sale at the brand’s new Blue Box Cafe.

Located on the refurbished fourth floor of the New York City Tiffany & Co flagship, the cafe is described by the luxury jewellery brand as its first ever “retail dining concept”.

The floor also features a tongue-in-cheek collection of everyday items along with a baby boutique, sterling silver hollowware, a selection of vintage books curated by Assouline and a Tiffany fragrance laboratory.

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“Both the cafe and redesign of the Home & Accessories floor reflect a modern luxury experience,” said Reed Krakoff, chief artistic officer with Tiffany & Co. “The space is experimental and experiential – a window into the new Tiffany.”

The everyday objects collection was born from the notion that beautiful things should not be limited to special occasions, explains Krakoff. “It’s Tiffany’s take on modern life where creativity and wit collide with the finest materials. I think what makes the collection unique is that it incorporates the best quality, craftsmanship and design with a level of functionality that allows you to use these things every day,” said Krakoff.

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For example, Tiffany & Co “upgraded” an 11.5-centimetre-tall can by adding a sterling silver exterior and a gold vermeil interior lining, along with an enamel stripe in Tiffany’s famous blue.

A “crazy straw” comes in silver ($330) and gold or rose gold ($430) with a blue enamel band.  

There’s an $850 pair of table tennis bats made from reclaimed American walnut and black and blue leather – which comes complete with a Tiffany-branded ping-pong ball.

Other items include a protractor, ruler, first aid box, ornamental building blocks and paper cup – all “ordinary objects made extraordinary,” as the brand proclaims. An empty paint can has been reimagined as a crystal ice bucket with a sterling silver trim.

“These covetable accessories possess a whimsical wink that is quintessentially Tiffany,” commented online design authority Dezeen.com. “The luxury house is known for its tongue-in-cheek approach to design, and the Tiffany Archives serve as a wellspring of inspiration for a series of objects in this collection, many of which can be engraved to make them uniquely personal.”

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Striking interior

The Tiffany & Co flagship’s new fourth floor incorporates industrial details the company believes evoke its craftsmanship and heritage. “Playful and unexpected touches sit harmoniously alongside elegant finishes like herringbone marble and amazonite stone, reflecting the new Home & Accessories collection’s emphasis on everyday luxury,” explained the company in an overview of the finished project.

The staircase leading to the fourth floor features a modern trio of nearly 15-foot-high light chains, created by the Paris-based design duo Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec. It is surrounded by hand-drawn ampersands, a design motif from the latest Home & Accessories collection.

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And a portrait of Charles Lewis Tiffany was commissioned, rendered with 8000 painted screws, offering a contemporary take on the luxury house’s founder.

American classics on the menu

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Meanwhile, the cafe features Tiffany’s famous blue colour throughout the floor. The Blue Box Cafe serves American classic dishes made with the high quality, regionally sourced ingredients. The simple menu – which will change and evolve through the seasons – is a refined take on signature New York dishes.

“The setting is as inviting as the food is inspiring, serving customers who have always dreamed of having Breakfast at Tiffany,” the company said.

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