Elise Pioch Chappell from Maison Balzac
We asked Elise Pioch Chappell, founder of Maison Balzac, what advice she would give to her younger self—discovering how a sense of child-like curiosity and playfulness influences her work today.
PHOTOS Stefanie Stamatis & Peter Van Alphen
An ode to the fishing village of Cadaqués, the new Le Merou porcelain collection from Maison Balzac. Photo & Art Direction: Stefanie Stamatis
‘My entire childhood is the building block of my life, personally and professionally,’ says French-born Elise Pioch Chappell, founder of Maison Balzac. Photo: Peter Van Alphen
“I find myself lucky to still have my childlike innocence driving my entire creative process (and pretty much my life!). I also see it as a precious naivety—in a positive way.”
Photo & Art Direction: Stefanie Stamatis. Inset photo of Elise Pioch Chappell as a young girl with the father.
The Good Egg Incense Holder from Maison Balzac. Photo & Art Direction: Stefanie Stamatis
Hello Elise—as creative, what’s the one thing that you’d most want to tell your younger self about the journey?
Elise: I would tell my younger self to soak in every detail around me as much as possible and to write them down in a journal, in order to narrate this story as an adult. I definitely enjoyed my childhood and am currently transforming my memories into objects for Maison Balzac, but it would be so helpful to have documented more.
Our younger years are the building blocks for our future… what’s been the most positive and precious ‘block’ from your childhood that’s shaped your adult life?
I couldn’t agree more with this statement—my entire childhood is the building block of my life, personally and professionally. If I were to pin-point one specific ‘block’, it would have to be my deep and raw connection with nature. My parents constantly took us to the bush surrounding our village: the vineyards, the sea, the rocks, the olive groves, the thyme fields… every colour, smell, insect and noises are my best companions to this date.
What’s a significant childhood memory you find yourself going back to?
I used to love catching prawns by the sea, amongst the black lava rock of our favourite beach near Agde, in France. Whenever I need to transport myself to a familiar, safe, happy place, I go there in my mind and I catch a dozen tiny grey prawns with long antennae.
Do you believe in the value of tapping into a childlike innocence when you’re designing?
OH YES! This is crucial to me. I find myself lucky to still have my childlike innocence driving my entire creative process (and pretty much my life!). I also see it as a precious naivety—in a positive way. This is something that I saw first-hand at Hermes when I worked there, their success relies on their ability to continuously layer childlike playfulness to every object they create.
Is there a creative idea that you thought was too wild when you first started the Maison Balzac journey that’s come to fruition?
There are many, but one of the funniest was my idea to make an incense holder in the shape of a giant marble snail - his antennae simply being two incense sticks. It’s now our hero piece and has been in our core collection since 2019. The most recent crazy idea was to attach glass prawns to the side of a fruit platter and again, it met instant success! So we will continue to embrace wild ideas because they are amusing!
When it comes to your business, what are you most proud of?
I’m very proud to have stayed true to myself since 2012—it took considerable strength to only listen to my inner voice as there are so many external opinions. I’m also really proud of the team around me, nothing would happen without them, they are incredibly talented and dedicated. I am in awe of each of them! I feel very lucky.