The Year Ahead in Collectible Design: A Conversation with Laetitia Contat Desfontaines
Following the successful launch of Studio SL’s inaugural collectible design collection, Layers in Time, last autumn, Silverlining’s Head of Strategic Business Development, Laetitia Contat Desfontaines, shares her insights into the collectible design market and Studio SL’s new collection plans.
1. What major shifts in the collectible design market have you observed over your career?
One of the most significant shifts has been the move away from traditional, scholarly defined collections towards far more personal and intuitive ones. Collectors once built highly structured groups based on a single era or movement such as Art Deco or Scandinavian furniture. Today, this approach has evolved into something much more fluid.
Collectors increasingly combine pieces across periods and disciplines. It is entirely natural to see an Eugène Printz cabinet paired with a Claude Lalanne banquette and a contemporary sculptural table in the same interior. This reflects the rise of cross-disciplinary environments where fine art and design coexist to create a personal narrative rather than a strictly categorised collection.
The Pauline Karpidas sale at Sotheby's London in September 2025 illustrated this shift powerfully. The collection combined diverse fine art alongside major design pieces by Claude and François Xavier Lalanne, Mathieu Bonetti and André Dubreuil. The strong results underscored how the market now responds to curated, deeply personal combinations.
Earlier landmark sales paved the way. Jacques Grange's 2017 sale at Sotheby's Paris revealed how a sophisticated collector could blend design, art, and antiques into a cohesive universe. The Pierre Bergé and Yves Saint Laurent collection in 2009 demonstrated the cultural impact of collections shaped by personal sensibility rather than strict period adherence. These sales helped establish the narrative driven-approach we see today.
Silverlining's approach to collectible design reflects these market shifts. Our limited edition collection pieces are Studio SL, our limited-edition collection, offers pieces designed for collectors who value provenance, exceptional craft, and material innovation. Each piece is numbered, documented, and created to become part of a thoughtfully curated interior.
2. What has most surprised you about the collectible design market in the past year?
Its resilience.
COVID marked a turning point when collectors realised the importance of living with pieces that were not merely functional but meaningful. This momentum has not slowed. Design has become increasingly integrated into major global evening sales, positioned confidently alongside fine art. The younger demographic entering the market brings fresh perspectives and a willingness to collect in more personal and adventurous ways.
All of this has contributed to the continued strength of the collectible design field.
3. Which emerging markets or regions are you watching closely?
The Middle East is particularly dynamic, with fairs and cultural initiatives developing at a rapid pace. India is also showing promising momentum. What interests me most is not only the growth in collectors but the rise of new studios and ateliers in these regions.
For a studio like ours, which values dialogue, craft and cultural exchange, these encounters can be the starting point for new ideas and future collaborations. The creative energy within these emerging regions will play an important role in the global design scene ahead.
4. How important are provenance, materials and craft to today's collectors?
Provenance has always been essential. It is the CV of a piece, the narrative that establishes its history and cultural significance. Collectors pay close attention to it and it remains a decisive element of value and trust.
Materials and craft are more important today than ever. Design is something you engage with physically such as touching the grain of a tabletop or feeling the texture of upholstery. These tactile interactions preserve a sense of humanity in an increasingly digital world.
There is also growing interest in sustainability and material traceability. Collectors want to understand not only how a piece is made but where its materials come from and how thoughtfully they have been used. Authentic craftsmanship, attention to detail and a clear material story resonate strongly.
5. What are you looking forward to in 2026?
We are developing Studio SL’s second limited edition collection to launch in autumn this year. The collection will bring together Studio SL’s creative expression, time-honoured craftsmanship, new materials, and the latest technologies.
The intention is to meet collectors' growing interest in exceptional craft while inviting them to discover something unexpected, to see familiar materials and processes in a fresh and contemporary way. And for our team to reach and express their full creative potential.
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