John Derian Company: Decoupage & Curiosities for the Curious Home

There are places in the world that feel less like shops and more like portals. Spaces where time loosens its grip, where the past and present overlap just enough to feel slightly magical. A visit to New York is never complete for us without stepping into the poetic, eccentric universe of the John Derian Company.

We recently returned from a whirlwind trip to New York, equal parts inspiration hunt and quiet pilgrimage. Between familiar streets and fleeting moments, we made our way to John Derian’s iconic shops, places we return to again and again, not just to source pieces, but to recalibrate our sense of beauty. To remember that homes can be witty, romantic, deeply personal, and a little strange, in the best possible way.

At the heart of John Derian’s world is decoupage, and it remains the soul of what we carry at BON TON goods.

Each decoupage piece is handmade in Derian’s New York studio using 18th- and 19th-century prints, fragments of botanical studies, portraits, insects, typography, and forgotten illustrations, carefully collaged beneath handblown glass. The process is slow, deliberate, and unmistakably human. No two pieces are ever exactly alike. Small irregularities are not flaws, but proof of the hand and eye behind them.

These are objects that invite close looking. A tray becomes a tableau. A coaster becomes a tiny museum. A paperweight feels like something discovered rather than bought, an intimate relic rescued from another century and given new life.

What we love most is the emotional range of Derian’s imagery. Some pieces feel tender and romantic, others quietly humorous, even mischievous. A beautifully rendered flower might sit beside an unexpected phrase. An elegant bird may carry just enough attitude to make you smile. His work never takes itself too seriously, and that lightness is part of its enduring charm.

Alongside the decoupage, we also carry a selection of John Derian’s ephemera and curiosities, the kinds of objects that encourage collecting and storytelling. Antique-inspired mirrors, postcards, sticker books, picture books, and paper goods that feel both nostalgic and joyfully contemporary. Many of these pieces are one of a kind, perfect for gifting or for adding a small moment of surprise to a shelf, desk, or bedside table.

A special corner of our collection is dedicated to the enduring collaboration between John Derian and Astier de Villatte. Their partnership brings Derian’s iconic imagery onto Astier’s hand-crafted ceramics, creating plates, platters, and objects that feel at once refined and playful. The chalky white ceramic becomes a canvas for antique imagery, resulting in pieces that are as suited to the table as they are to the wall. We are proud to carry an extensive selection of this collaboration, which continues to evolve while remaining unmistakably itself.

Alongside the decoupage, we also carry a considered selection of textiles, trays and plates, as well as one truly exceptional piece: The Paris Sofa. Handcrafted in Italy and upholstered in the luxurious Tuberose textile by the John Derian Company of New York, it brings a sense of quiet drama and refinement to a room. Finished with walnut legs, the Paris Sofa feels both indulgent and timeless.

John Derian’s work reminds us that a home doesn’t need to be perfect to be beautiful. It can be layered, idiosyncratic, filled with references and memories. It can hold humor alongside elegance, history alongside modern life. These are objects meant to be lived with, noticed slowly, and loved over time.

From New York to Malmö, his pieces travel well, carrying stories with them. We’re delighted to welcome a fresh selection of John Derian decoupage and curiosities to BON TON goods, each one chosen with the same sense of wonder that first drew us into his world.

For those who believe that the most interesting homes are built piece by piece, with curiosity and affection, John Derian’s universe feels like coming home.