Pearl Necklace Ludovic

Finding inspiration in a range of subjects that includes mathematics and insects, French lighting designer Ludovic Clément d’Armont prioritizes design that is ethical and sustainable and, in doing so, invites a deeper conversation on how we light our spaces. 

Born in northern France, d’Armont is an artist who studied engineering at École Centrale Paris. In 2009, he established the lighting design studio Semeur d’Étoiles in Viroflay. Working with mouth-blown glass, crystal, brass and porcelain, the artisans at Semeur d’Étoiles create sculptural, statement-making fixtures by hand from recycled materials. 

The studio’s self-proclaimed signature — a soothing French Art de Vivre style, with a modern human-centric approach — has yielded a series of lighting fixtures that are named for planets, a line that celebrates June’s birthstone and sculptural lamps and pendants that draw on the animal kingdom. Semeur d’Étoiles chandeliers and wall lights are conversation starters, not only for the designs’ unique forms, which so frequently draw on nature and on pearl jewelry — see the studio’s Spider floor lamp and Pearl Necklace pendants — but also for the thought and care that guides each step of the brand’s manufacturing process. 

D’Armont, who has cited Brazil’s Campana Brothers as an influence on his work, comes from a long line of glassmakers and carpenters, and his commitment to craft characterizes every one-of-a-kind fixture that is produced at Semeur d’Étoiles. Packaging, shipping, the energy consumption that is associated with manufacturing, how easily and efficiently an item can be repaired, and sustainable sourcing — these are all factors that anchor the work being done at d’Armont’s studio. In order to operate in an environmentally sound way, the company works with manufacturing experts and with ADEME, a French agency that advises businesses on implementing sustainable practices.

Eco-conscious buyers, collectors and luxury boutiques around the world support d’Armont and the mission at Semeur d’Étoiles. The studio has partnered with decorator and furniture designer Vincent Darré, French architects Bismut & Bismut and British architecture firm State of Craft.

On 1stDibs, find a collection of Ludovic Clément d’Armont lighting and wall decorations.

Chandeliers — simple in form, inspired by candelabras and originally made of wood or iron — first made an appearance in early churches. For those wealthy enough to afford them for their homes in the medieval period, a chandelier's suspended lights likely exuded imminent danger, as lit candles served as the light source for fixtures of the era. Things have thankfully changed since then, and antique and vintage chandeliers and pendant lights are popular in many interiors today.

While gas lighting during the late 18th century represented an upgrade for chandeliers — and gas lamps would long inspire Danish architect and pioneering modernist lighting designer Poul Henningsen — it would eventually be replaced with the familiar electric lighting of today.

The key difference between a pendant light and a chandelier is that a pendant incorporates only a single bulb into its design. Don’t mistake this for simplicity, however. An Art Deco–styled homage to Sputnik from Murano glass artisans Giovanni Dalla Fina (note: there is more than one lighting fixture that shares its name with the iconic mid-century-era satellite — see Gino Sarfatti’s design too), with handcrafted decorative elements supported by a chrome frame, is just one stunning example of the elaborate engineering that can be incorporated into every component of a chandelier.

Chandeliers have evolved over time, but their classic elegance has remained unchanged. Not only will the right chandelier prove impressive in a given room, but it can also offer a certain sense of practicality. These fixtures can easily illuminate an entire space, while their elevated position prevents them from creating glare or straining one’s eyes. Certain materials, like glass, can complement naturally lit settings without stealing the show. Brass, on the other hand, can introduce an alluring, warm glow. While LEDs have earned a bad reputation for their perceived harsh bluish lights and a loss of brightness over their life span, the right design choices can help harness their lighting potential and create the perfect mood. A careful approach to lighting can transform your room into a peaceful and cozy nook, ideal for napping, reading or working.

For midsize spaces, a wall light or sconce can pull the room together and get the lighting job done. Perforated steel rings underneath five bands of handspun aluminum support a rich diffusion of light within Alvar Aalto's Beehive pendant light, but if you’re looking to brighten a more modest room, perhaps a minimalist solution is what you’re after. The mid-century modern furniture designer Charlotte Perriand devised her CP-1 wall lamps in the 1960s, in which a repositioning of sheet-metal plates can redirect light as needed.

The versatility and variability of these lighting staples mean that, when it comes to finding something like the perfect chandelier, you’ll never be left hanging. From the whimsical — like the work of Beau & Bien’s Sylvie Maréchal, frequently inspired by her dreams — to the classic beauty of Paul Ferrante's fixtures, there is a style for every room. With designs for pendant lights and chandeliers across eras, colors and materials, you’ll never run out of options to explore on 1stDibs.