In the fold with Gergei Erdei

Artist explains his foray into precious folding screens

Gergei Erdei Hunters screen
Gergei Erdei's Hunters screen
(Image credit: Gergei Erdei Hunters screen)

Since launching his own interior decor brand in 2019, Hungarian-born, London-based designer Gergei Erdei has created objects that trace the history of hedonism – from the bacchanals of Ancient Greece to the glitzy bombast of 1970s Hollywood. There are plates decorated with laurel leaves and leopard print tablecloths, vase-like drinking glasses in tropical colours, and cushions decorated with mythological figures and palm trees. Erdei's influences are varied and theatrical, but they always maintain a sense of refinement and a dedication to exceptional, quality craft. 

For Erdei, who worked alongside Alessandro Michele at Gucci before launching his own line, the joy of designing is creating objects that "evoke a strong desire in people." 

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The collection Erdei is speaking about, entitled "Objects of Desire", will debut this Spring with a capsule launch of six hand-painted folding screens. In true Erdei fashion, the screens translate a variety of inspirations into a range of elevated home objects. There's "The Hunters," which evokes Pompeii's crumbling murals with a fresco style motif and an illusion of crumbling paint; "The Peace", inspired by 1960s Italian murals; and "Barbier'' a gold screen inspired by the Art Deco illustrations of French artist George Barbier. 

Together, they create an exceptional collection of movable artworks, which will be available to order from the brand's website from 1 April and are soon to be followed by the launch of more furniture pieces later in the year.