Light as atmosphere. Design as a balance between form, function and emotion.

Our exclusive interview with Jean-Edouard Cistacq, co-founder and designer of the Baccaris brand

Light as atmosphere. Design as a balance between form, function and emotion.
French brand Baccaris, co-founded by Jean-Edouard Cistacq and Myriam Magra, creates lamps that are not just a source of light, but a refined element of the interior.

In our interview, Jean-Edouard Cistacq shares his personal approach to design, inspiration from history, relationship to the Art Deco style, and the delicate line between elegance and extravagance.

1. If you had to describe your collections in three words that would never appear in a catalog, what would they be?
Timelessness, elegance, bourgeois.

2. What is the most important emotion a light should evoke the moment it is turned on?
Feeling comfortable.

3. What do you think truly defines French charm in lighting design – color, form, atmosphere, or something that can't quite be named?
For me, it's atmosphere combined with materiality.

4. Your lamps have a very recognizable Art Deco geometry. Is this a conscious intention or a natural imprint of your personal handwriting?
It's a personal design language. I enjoy working with design history, drawing from the past, appropriating it, and reinterpreting it for our time.

5. If your lighting fixtures were a character from a French film, who would they be and why?
Madame Arpel from the film Mon Oncle by Jacques Tati, because this character embodies the archetype of the bourgeois woman of the 1950s and 1960s who loves her home and makes sure that its interior is refined, cultured and thought out down to the last detail.

6. What is more magical for you: when the light immediately catches your eye, or when it almost disappears and creates a feeling of well-being?
A bit of both. I enjoy the moment when a light fixture creates a "wow effect" when entering a space, but also the soft, subtle light that highlights the space and creates a sense of well-being.

7. Where do you think elegance ends and extravagance begins – and how does Baccaris walk this line?
Elegance ends when form prevails over function. At that moment it turns into extravagance. Baccaris guards this boundary by ensuring that light must first and foremost fulfill its function, and only then can it afford to work with more expressive forms and noble materials.

8. How important is regional production and working with local materials to you?
We strive to collaborate with manufacturers and artisans who excel in specific techniques and finishes. That's why we work with stonemasons in Portugal and with manufacturers in India who specialize in wrought metal and hand-carved wood.

9. If you could design a light fixture for an iconic building, which one would you choose and why?
I would love to design a light fixture for the Chrysler Building. It is a symbol of Art Deco, a period that I have a deep connection to. The exterior expresses the richness and boldness of the style, while the interior reveals its elegance and sophistication.

10. What material would you like to work with in the future, but is not yet part of your collections?
I would really like to work with bronze and create sculptural forms from it.

Baccaris presents light as a refined detail that shapes the atmosphere and character of a space.

The Baccaris collections are available in our e-shop, where you can buy them directly for your interior. At the same time, it is possible to experience the world of Baccaris at the Maison&Objet fair in Paris, where visitors can discover the collections and personally meet co-founders Jean-Edouard Cistacq and Myriam Magrou.

📍 Hall 3 / Stand E59
🗓 January 15–19, 2026