Stockholm, Sweden
”Flora Eterna” (2023), at Benhuset, Stockholm, Sweden.
Everlasting blooms
Flower Forever
Floral bead craft from France and Venice
S o-called French beaded flowers has been Georg Ragnar Levi's collecting passion for over thirty years. As the proud owner of over 1,200 newly commissioned or vintage blossoms, he now celebrates the traditional craft through books and evocative installations.
Beaded flowers are traditionally made in memory of a person or special occasion, appearing through history at baptisms, weddings and funerals.
• Exhibitions •
EXCEPTIONAL EXHIBITS
Glimmering glass beads can be threaded onto thin wire and shaped into flowers. This stunning historical handicraft is rooted in Venice and its famous Murano glass. The Levi collection of 1200+ antique and new glass beaded flowers from artisans all over the world has been shown in artful installations across Europe, from Venice to Stockholm.
Ebeltoft, Denmark
”Sow Flowers on Your Path” (2019), by invitation of the Glass Museum, Ebeltoft, Denmark, in its ”No Strings” exhibition.
Venice, Italy
”Flora in vitro” (2017), by invitation of The Venice Glass Week, at Palazzetto Bru Zane, San Polo, Venice, Italy.
Munich, Germany
”Blütenpracht” (2023) group exhibition, by invitation at Galerie Handwerk, the cultural establishment of the Chamber of Crafts for Munich and Upper Bavaria, Germany.
Djurgården, Stockholm SE
”Blomma för evigt” (2016) at the Thielska Galleriet, Djurgården, Stockholm, Sweden.
• Books •
STRIKING STORIES
”Flora ad infinitum” is a unique and lavishly illustrated book, published in five languages, telling the fascinating story of how so-called French beaded flowers came to be both loved and despised, at times even banned. Expert reviewers call the book ”a feast of discovery”, ”dazzling” and ”heart-warming”. The author gracefully guides his readers through the history, techniques, materials, and personal stories behind the everlasting beauty of this historical craft.
Deutscher Kunstverlag / DeGruyter
In English & French (2023)
Updated bilingual edition to be released autumn 2023.
Deutscher Kunstverlag / DeGruyter
In German & Italian (2021)
Bilingual edition for German and Italian readers.
Bokförlaget Langenskiöld
In Swedish (out of print)
First Swedish edition.
Bokförlaget Langenskiöld
In English (out of print)
First edition in English.
UNESCO World Heritage
On December 17, 2020, Venetian glass beads were officially inscribed as an immaterial cultural heritage of the world by UNESCO.
World of Interiors feature
One of the most influential interior design magazines, World of Interiors, featured the collection and Flora ad infinitum in its anniversary issue in December 2021, referring to the book as ”dazzling”.
ABOUT
Georg Ragnar Levi
author, designer, collector
Born in Solna, Sweden. Author, collector and versatile designer based in Stockholm, Sweden.
