ACHILLE CASTIGLIONI

Tracing the very route of Italian design cannot go without mentioning the several contributors - architects, artists and designers - that shaped and fuelled the factories of italian creativity over the last century. Our intention is to tell its story through the most emblematic images and objects that led and shaped that creative soil, laid the foundation of its milestones and generated the unique designs that are still so vivid in everyone's imagination.

This post is dedicated to Achille Castiglioni, whose best works are permanently displayed at the MoMA of NY and V&A Museum of London. He won such an impressive number of prizes, awards and honorary degrees that would be too long to list.
Between the Fifties and the Eighties Achille and his brother Pier Giacomo designed some of the most stunning projects and products of their age, the majority of which are still as modern and original as they were 50 years ago. Some of their most famous projects are below.

SELLA is a stool designed in 1957 and made up with a leather bike saddle and an emispherical iron base. Today is produced and sold by Zanotta
The forefather of modern recycling?

 ARCO floor lamp is one of the most appreciated yet copied lamps worldwide. The base of the lamp is a block of white marble weighting 65 kg. It is produced by FLOS

 TACCIA table lamp is another masterpiece. Designed in 1958 (seriously....can you believe it!) it is produced by FLOS since 1962. The light is reflected by a convex white surface placed at the top of a large glass paraboloid. By rotating the large glass dome on its pivoting base you can redirect the reflection of the light. 

 This is one of those few things that let me think "thank God I smoke". Beautiful SPIRALE ashtray, designed by Achille in 1971 and now produced by Alessi

VISCONTEA and TARAXACUM, both designed by Achille and Pier Giacomo in 1960 are ceiling lamps produced by Flos. Here the protuding inner structure becomes a distinctive sign.

There would be a lot more to say about Achille Castiglioni. Please visit the official website www.achillecastiglioni.it for detailed information on Achille's life, works and projects.

FORNASETTI'S FURNITURE

The jewel in the crown in Fornasetti's portfolio is the amazing range of furniture: cabinets, chests, small tables, chairs.... These are pieces one could easily kill for.
Fornasetti Atelier must be employing an army of craftmen and artists who reproduce, re-edit and re-invent some of the most stunning designs in the Fornasetti's archive (which numbers something like ten thousand different items). And the results are beautifully made pieces of furniture and a collection of small cabinets comparable to a drop of Chanel n°5: you dont need anything else.

Custom made cabinet "fondo marino" 

 Curved cabinet "Città di carta"

Small curved cabinet

Fun Fan trumeau-bar

Palladiana chest of drawers

Capitello Ionico Chair

Pompeiana wall divider

Dama mirror

 

Collier Mirror

 

Please visit the official website Fornasetti for more.

FORNASETTI'S WORLD

He's one of the most recognizable, prolific and renowned designers of this century. 
Who doesn't know Leonardo da Vinci and Piero Fornasetti? And why did he have such an amazing success: was it originality? talent? genius? commercially savvy decisions?

Certainly It won't be me to answer such a difficult question and, besides, I'm sure there're many cultivated people out there who have already come to their own conclusion.

As far as I'm concerned, I love Piero Fornasetti because he somehow embodied all that at the same time: originality, talent and yes, a commercial acumen without doubt.

In his art, he managed to recall and commemorate more ancient and forgotten times - when art din't appear on dinner plates or ties or wallpaper rolls - and somehow gave the old art and its "language" a new life, one that - at the end of the day - it's far more suitable for the present-age. 

One thing I'm utterly convinced of is that Piero Fornasetti might be recognized as one of the first, truly industrial designers in Italy.  He was born in 1913.

Collectible plates. from the Themes and Variations series

Candles

Jar

Umbrella (why not?)

Coffee cup

Wall paper

 








p.s.
I was quite disappointed to find out that Fornasetti Official website doesn't offer any shop on line experience. I believe that everyone has the right to own one authentic Fornasetti. 

HAVING A TEA WITH ETTORE SOTTSASS

Basilico Teapot from the "Indian Memories" series. This and the following ones were designed in 1972

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Pepper teapot from the "Indian Memories" series.

Cinnamon teapotfrom the "Indian Memories" series.

Lapislazzuli teapot from the "Indian Memories" series.

Cherries teapot

Cardamom teapot

Isn't he so futurist? Doesn't that remind you of some DEPERO's works? I'll have to talk about Depero as well, one of these days.

(End of part I)

GAE AULENTI

GAE AULENTI

My Gae Aulenti's favourite is a coffee table designed in 1980.
At the time, when most of people used to furnish their homes with girly floral beddings, rattan sofas, and overwhelmingly colorful wallpapers (you remember that, do you?) Gae Aulenti was designing this....

the Tavolo Con Ruote (Table with wheels) is a coffee table with a 15 mm tempered glass on industrial wheels. Today it is produced by FontanaArte and after 34 years it still amazes me. This looks like an ironic and surprising statement around the concept of urban contamination and at the same time a re-interpretation of surrealistic avantgardes. Doesn't it look like a homage to Marcel Duchamp?

  

Then, in 1993, Gae Aulenti surprises us again with the Tour dining table and this time she uses a set of rotating bicycle wheels. The Tour table as well is produced by FontanaArte.

Gae Aulenti, together with Piero Castiglioni, designed in 1980 a group of lamps called Parola: two floor lamps and one smaller table lamp.

My Aulenti's favourite lamp is Pipistrello, designed in 1965 and named after the bat (pipistrello in Italian) for the shape of its diffuser resembling the wings of the animal. Adjustable height thanks to the telescopic movement of a stainless steel base. Available in different colors and in the newer LED version. I find the white one heavenly beautiful. Produced by Martinelli Luce