Maison & Objet 2025: neo-surrealism or rational minimalism?

Maison & Objet 2025. Les Objets Mouleversants by Serax and Wouters & Hendrix – Courtesy of Wouters & Hendrix.

Design. Enrico Zilli, Archipanic’s Editor-In-Chief, selected eight design collections launching at Maison & Objet 2025 and around Paris. The fair highlighted Neo-Surrealism as a growing trend, yet more functional, rational, and essential projects also stood out in the French capital.

RELATED STORIES: Read more about Paris 2025 on Archipanic.

Assise chair by Maxime Lis for Airborne – Photo via IG by @studiovidal, follow @airborne.fr.

Belgian design company Serax teamed up with Antwerp-based jewellery atelier Wouters & Hendrix to introduce Les Objets Mouleversants [The Moulding Objects], a neo-surrealist, irreverent and playful tableware collection. The series comprises a mussel-shaped fruit bowl, a set of dishes inspired by the infamous red lips by Salvador Dali, Man Ray and Marcel Duchamp-inspired candle holders and a ‘handed’ glass-blown carafe.

Les Objets Mouleversants by Serax and Wouters & Hendrix – Courtesy of Wouters & Hendrix.

French design brand Airborne introduced the Assise chair collection by Bordeaux-based designer Maxime Lis. Inspired by “methylene blue skies,” this minimalistic and elegant seat offers a strong sense of functionality with its simple yet essential silhouette. Assise is made from 12 mm matte black powder-coated steel wire and is available in twelve colours.

Assise chair by Maxime Lis for Airborne – Photo via IG by @airborne.fr.

For the Maison & Objet’s Sur/Reality exhibition, Masiero presented a striking limited edition of its Nappe collection designed by Marco Zito. The term “Nappe,” meaning tassels in Italian, refers to decorative elements commonly found in the opulent rooms of Venetian mansions. This limited edition showcases fuchsia and purple metal cylinders and spheres, complemented by gold leaf geometric features.

Nappe XL by Marco Zito for Masiero. Limited edtition for M&O 2025 – Photo by Masiero.

As part of the fair’s citywide programme, Anthony Guerrée skillfully shaped marble, wood, metal, and glass with architectural precision to create a sculptural furniture collection for La Chance. This new series comprises a monolithic table that contrasts the solidness of wood with the elegance of negative space. The Pause Chair, designed by Timothée Mion, is a refined exploration of minimalism and offers a thoughtful take on minimalism, blending architectural form with tactile warmth.

Eclipse table by Anthony Guerrée snf Pause chair by Timothée Mion for La Chance – Photo by La Chance.

At the M&O’s Sur/Reality showcase, Jonathan Adler presented the Bel Air vases, which feature a bold or moody hue suspended within a thick, clear acrylic cube. Perfect for tight bouquets, they are available in several shapes and sizes.

Bel Air vessels by Jonathan Adler – © Jonathan Adler.

In Paris, the eclectic French design brand Editeur Petite Friture introduced PYL, a series of pendants, wall, and floor lamps created by the Marie et Alexandre studio, founded by Marie Cornil and Alexandre Willaume. Each piece showcases a minimalist aesthetic that delves into form, material, and colour. The colour palette takes inspiration from 20th-century Italian design, featuring hues like chili red, raw steel, and bright yellow.

PYL by Marie et Alexandre for Petite Friture – Photo by Petite Friture.

At Maison & Objet in the City, the Sfera lamps collection, designed by Victoria Wilmotte for Pulpo, features a striking triangular steel frame with a high-gloss finish or a soft velvet glaze. Three hand-blown globes emit a sharp, sculptural light, establishing a dramatic and artistic atmosphere.

Sfera lamps by Victoria Wilmotte for Pulpo – Courtesy of Victoria Wilmotte.

Presque is a Nantes-based design studio specialised in 3D printing, “composed of reliable machines and friendly humans.” At Maison & Objet, the studio presented Originale.gcode, a transparent table lamp made from PLA, a biobased material derived from corn starch. Showcased at M&O.