LIMOGES TIGERS

For the first time in the history of the famous French porcelain manufactory Bernardaud, the brand has released a collaboration with an Azerbaijani artist. Farhad Farzali, a 34-year-old artist from Baku, created sketches for the limited Tiger Collection released exclusively for Azerbaijan. The creative alliance between the Azerbaijani artist and the French brand was formed thanks to the active participation of Italdizain Group. The company initiated a joint project between Farhad and the famous Limoges manufactory, whose interests it represents in Azerbaijan. On the occasion of the release of the collection, The M.O.S.T. magazine’s editorial staff talked with Chairman and CEO of the Bernardaud manufactory, Mr. Michel Bernardaud, as well as with

the creator of drawings for the collection, artist Farhad Farzali.

The M.O.S.T.: Various European manufactures like the Hungarian porcelain factory Herend and the Czech crystal manufacture Moser have created exclusive collections for Azerbaijan in the past. However, for the first time in history, such a collaboration is taking place in partnership with Bernardaud. Could you please tell us how this project originated?

Michel Bernardaud: We operate in the Azerbaijani market through our historical partner, Italdizain, which has a strong vision on the art scene in Azerbaijan and is used setting up meaningful collaboration between brands and local artists. Italdizain met the artist in 2022, when Farhad Farzali acted as an art consultant for a theatrical performance based on the folk tale “Seven Branches of the Pomegranate Tree,” carried out with the support of one of the company’s brands. The collaboration turned out to be successful, giving Italdizain the idea to collaborate with the artist on a porcelain project. They came to us and asked if we were interested, as they knew we have a long tradition of working with contemporary artists.

The M.O.S.T.: Were there any challenges that you had to overcome during the collaborative process?

Michel Bernardaud: The challenge to overcome when working with artists involves being as faithful as possible to their design and responding to their requirements. In this case, of course, respecting the strong colors of Farhad Farzali was crucial. The perfect reproduction of the tiger artwork required the application of special techniques, and we are proud of the final rendering, which matches elegantly with the original painting.

The M.O.S.T.: What was your first impression of the idea of collaborating with Bernardaud, and what inspired you to participate in this project?

Farhad Farzali: I immediately found the idea of collaborating with Bernardaud to be exciting and inspiring. This project represented a unique opportunity to combine Eastern cultural symbols with the Western tradition of porcelain art. As for the inspiration, that derived from my childhood memories of stuffed tigers, and the strength and independence they symbolized; that fueled my desire to revive this image in a contemporary context.

The M.O.S.T.: Why did you choose the tiger as the main representative of this collaboration?

Farhad Farzali: The tiger was chosen as the main character due to its deep symbolic meaning in Eastern culture, as well as my personal relationship with the animal. It symbolizes strength, nobility, and vitality, which aligned perfectly with the goals of this project.