Together with his friends Charles and Ray Eames and George Nelson, Alexander Girard was one of the leading figures in American design during the post-war period. While textiles were the primary focus of Girard’s oeuvre, he was also admired for his work in the areas of furniture design, graphics, exhibitions and interior architecture.

Girard made the Angel Candle Holder for his home in Santa Fe, where it stood on the dining table surrounded by folk art and vases. He also used the motif in graphic designs for ‘The Magic of a People’, an exhibit of folk art created by Girard in 1968 for the International Exposition ‘HemisFair ’68’ in San Antonio, Texas. Vitra collaborated with the Girard family to develop the white candle holder for serial production in powder-coated steel.