Welcome to the 53rd Salone Internazionale del Mobile, where all things good, bad and ugly about design congregated last week. More than 2,400 manufacturers, designers, organizations and others take part officially. Stores in the city are rented out by participants for a king’s ransom (the storeowners actually move out completely for two weeks). The exhibitors put up shows or create mini-salons in the hotels. At this stage there is not a hotel room to be had in Milan.
At first, when the ceramic previews for the show began to roll in, CFile had some reservations about this year’s editions. One is reminded that much of what is shown there is bottom-feeder design or kitsch. After reflection about the show, we’re not convinced that these works are proof of God’s existence, but it’s solid stuff nevertheless. Here is the first of several posts surveying the state of art in ceramic design. Descriptions of the various projects are included below in the captions.
Above image: The Salone Internazionale del Mobile.
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The Mia table lamp from Fabbian lighting is in natural white ceramic composed in two conical elements. The base cone is large enough so that the smaller cone making up the lamp can rest within it. The company says this is a “playful” feature that allows the user to adjust the light according to their mood, allowing for direct, or indirect light.
The Torrembolesca Candy Container was designed by Andreu Carulla for the El Celler de Can Roca ice cream parlor in Spain. Described by the designer as a “totem-like bonbon recipient” the set is of modular boxes that can store your chocolates in a personalized, pastel-colored tower. The interiors are in gold, framing the chocolates inside.
The FADE bathroom collection is a collaboration between designers Kyuhyung Cho and John Astbury. The collection is a set of 13 vessels and pieces of furniture for the bathroom. The ash table, ash and copper mirror and the collection of ceramic trays and vessels share a common motif. The designers state they view bathing as a ritual and as a metaphor for their work. Their aim in the motif was to make the objects represent the invisible transformation they contained.
Ceramic urns by designer Lieven Neyrinck are sturdy, bold vessels done in charcoal black, believably selling the idea of sending something into eternity. There’s a little more accessibility for the living with the white handle elements on the sides.
Ceramic vessels by Belgium designer Ilona Van Den Bergh. Drawn from collections such as “kAn” and “kOmma” these vessels occupy the space between utility and decoration. The designer states on her web site that the shapes she creates are extensions of her body. She seeks to fill voids with sleek, pure lines and shapes inspired by nature and graphic design.
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