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Designed to celebrate Original BTC’s 21st birthday and the Michelin building’s centenary, the Hector Bibendum table light by Terence Conran for Original BTC is the perfect marriage of British manufacturing and design .A take on Original BTC’s bone china Hector, the Hector Bibendum brings wit and charm to the classic light’s clean lines. Taking inspiration from the iconic Michelin Man – formally known as Monsieur Bibendum – the new light feature the corpulent character’s trademark rings of tyres and Original BTC’s signature cotton-braided flex.
“Having restored the eponymous Fulham Road building to its former glory in 1985, Terence Conran and the Michelin Man are indelibly linked,” explains Original BTC founder Peter Bowles. “My goal is to produce lights that will fit easily and comfortably for years to come and the Michelin Man’s longevity sits perfectly with this ethos.”While the Original BTC collection is designed in-house by Peter and his son Charlie, Terence Conran was approached to create a limited edition light to mark the British manufacturer’s birthday. “I have used Original BTC’s classic lights for over 20 years. The Conran Shop was one of the first retailers to stock their products, many of which can be spotted in our restaurants, hotels and contract projects,” explains Sir Terence.
Slip-cast moulded by hand at Original BTC’s Stoke-on-Trent factory in a highly skilled, labour- intensive process, the Hector Bibendum’s shade and base are dipped in glaze after biscuit firing to achieve a high gloss finish. Clamps and base weights are manufactured at Original BTC’s recently purchased Birmingham metal works, then all parts are sent to Oxford for assembly. “The last 21 years prove how successful British manufacturing can be, with our lights on sale in design hot spots around the globe, including The Conran Shop in Paris and New York. We will continue to fly the ‘Made in England’ flag and show the world that Britain can well and truly make it.”
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One of the first designers to capture the appeal of industrial styling, Original BTC founder Peter Bowles’ relaxed, familiar lighting is inspired by a family history steeped in retail, manufacturing and design. A carpenter by trade, Peter’s grandfather was chairman of Minty Furniture of Oxford, later bought out by Parker Knoll. After learning the ropes at Minty, Peter’s father launched iconic 1960s lighting retailer Cosmo Designs, employing 13-year-old Peter on his stand at the Harrogate Lighting Fair.
Childhood visits to his father’s manufacturing facilities opened Peter’s eyes to the clean lines of traditional factory fittings and the versatility of mid-century style, while a stint working the machines at a French cutlery manufacturer ignited his passion in the “crash, bang, whallop of production.” Returning to England, Peter opened a Sheffield factory producing a million pieces of own-designed cookware a year.
Challenged by the design limitations of cutlery, in 1990 Peter went back to his roots with an Oxford-based lighting factory. “My goal was to design and produce lights that you are instantly at home with, that will fit easily and comfortably for many years to come”, he explains. While inspiration is drawn from all quarters- an antique lamp used to keep chicks warm or the searchlight on the back of a toy lorry- authenticity and attention to detail remain at the heart of the collection. When a visit to the Stoke-on-Trent shade manufacturer revealed the factory was under threat of closure, Peter promptly took on the business, including all staff. Later, unsatisfied with the finish of commonly- used plastic lighting flex, he replaced it with woven cotton braid snipped off the family iron, soon becoming one of Original BTC’s best-loved design features.
Today, over 50% of Original BTC’s lights are exported worldwide, with their simple elegance recognised internationally by design luminaries including Andree Putman, John Pawson and Terence Conran. |
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