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Starting point
“We began 25 years ago as a company of discovery,” explains Mark Phillips. “Today, we are a company of design.” Working with native artisans and craftspeople from the Pacific through Asia and Eastern Europe, his award-winning Phillips Collection creates uniquely powerful sculpture, fountains, wall décor, and furniture.
Family matters
Phillips’ parents traveled around the world collecting ancient art; joining them on one tour, he was entranced by the cultural expressions he encountered. Today, his collection reflects his very personal vision interwoven with that of his wife, a European-trained architect, and their son, a designer.
Company motto
Every piece a conversation. “You don’t have to know the story behind a piece to respond to it, to know that it’s cool and powerful and unusual,” Phillips says.
Back to the roots
In northern Thailand, the intertwined roots of old, naturally felled trees inspired this console. “We were using a power washer to remove embedded rocks, but sometimes that wasn’t enough,” Phillips says. “So we bought a decommissioned fire truck and use the hose to clean out the roots.” A craftsman then uses a chainsaw to cut and shape the roots; the result is used to create molds for the tables. “We give it a modern spin, organic but not at all rustic.” Surprisingly, he adds, it has been most popular as a base for flatscreen TVs.
Stones rock
A number of cultures have used piles of stones in different ways, from forms of worship to trail markers – “a sort of primitive GPS,” Phillips says. With the Equilibrium sculpture, “we took the idea to a fanciful level, interpreted in ceramic and resin on a steel shaft at an exaggerated height.”
Dancing with a star
The Hindu god Shiva Mataraj -- dancing shiva – was inspired by a 13th century icon in an Indian museum. “You don’t have to be familiar with the religion to appreciate her grace and delicacy and the sheer power of the image,” Phillips says.
Water power
The Phillips Collection includes a variety of fountains because “they unite tranquility and motion.” The Twisted Copper Fountain was inspired by the double helix of the DNA molecule – “we love the way the water cascades over it and brings it to life.”
