Animalier
for Dolce & Gabbana Casa

Animalier, a new collection of Murano glass vases for the Gen D project by Dolce & Gabbana Casa, curated by Federica Sala.

Made in collaboration with Fornace Mian, Murano & Bubacco Bros.

With Animalier we mean, both in fashion and in furniture, those decorative elements associated to the animal realm.

In the history of Murano glass, animals have been a great source of inspiration for the great masters, a subject worthy of technical and formal experimentation. However, with the rise in mass tourism, the glass animal has become associated with cheap souvenirs of dubious quality, provenance and taste at times.

With this project, I used all the animals that inhabit the windows of souvenir shops to elevate the glass that with time has unfortunately become a sort of visual junk.

Various objects are heated and gathered by the master in the glass “bolo”, this way they’re inserted inside the mass that, once it’s worked and blown, will deform them, transforming the vase in a zoo. A sort of fantastic bestiary created by deformed animals birthed from the same process of crafting of the material. It is in fact the matter that decides and creates its very own coating.

As for the animalier pattern, the idea is to utilize three-dimensional objects to turn them into a two-dimensional decoration, a recurring motif, a loop.

Toppings

A collection of four lamps made of tinted venetian mirrored glass combined with traditional decorative glass curls and pins, which are used as if they were a layer of cream, colored buttercream or thick frosting spread on a base as a garnish. Made with Barbini Specchi Veneziani.

Available exclusively at Nilufar Gallery

TESTE COMPOSTE
Roberto & Michela

A series of mirrors inspired by Arcimboldo composed of swirls, rosettes, flowers and leaves – some of the most typical elements of craftwork on Venetian mirrors – in the place of beards, eyes, noses and hair. The mask and the mirror are both typical Venetian artistic products: combining the two creates a new mask which maintains the decorative details typical of the antique Venetian mirror while downplaying any seriousness with irony and levity.

Bukolisch
for Vetralia Collectible

Bukolisch was born out of a fascination with the painted wardrobes found in the Tyrolean region. These pieces of furniture are characterized by their bucolic painting and are considered a part of folk art. Today, the term carries a sense of nostalgia for pre-industrial society.

The concept behind “bukolisch" is to use industrial materials and apply new glass painting techniques to recreate the typical vernacular look of everyday objects. The illustrations are variations of a repeated form Inspired by the typical Venetian art of engraving.

Depending on their position, the decorations take on different meanings. All of these meanings dreamily recall the same ornamental nature of the original pieces.

Teste Composte for The Odd Piece
Rosemary & Chris

A series of mirrors inspired by Arcimboldo composed 
of swirls, rosettes, flowers and leaves – some of the most typical elements of craftwork on Venetian mirrors – 
in the place of beards, eyes, noses and hair. The mask 
and the mirror are both typical Venetian artistic products: combining the two creates a new mask 
which maintains the decorative details typical of the antique Venetian mirror while downplaying any seriousness with irony and levity.

Available exclusively at The Odd Piece

Teste Composte for Emma Scully Gallery
Ms. Italia, The Clown, The Biker

A series of mirrors inspired by Arcimboldo composed 
of swirls, rosettes, flowers and leaves – some of the most typical elements of craftwork on Venetian mirrors – 
in the place of beards, eyes, noses and hair. The mask 
and the mirror are both typical Venetian artistic products: combining the two creates a new mask 
which maintains the decorative details typical of the antique Venetian mirror while downplaying any seriousness with irony and levity.

Available exclusively at Emma Scully Gallery

Al Dente candle holders

Softwood 

Softwood is a collection of upholstered stools using moirè fabric. Made in collaboration with Tappezzerie Druetta for Swing Design Gallery.

This stool is the result of research that revolves around the idea of imitation. The process starts with the use of moirè fabric, which is distinguished by a design that reproduces the typical effect of wood grain. Veins are repeated in the pattern of colored shapes that characterize the stool, and the divided sections of different moirè evoke the decorative process of wood inlay. Hence the idea of a seat padded with soft wood. The stool has been crafted by master upholsterer Gabriele Druetta.

Teste Composte
The Gentleman, The Lady, Hand Mirror

A series of mirrors inspired by Arcimboldo composed 
of swirls, rosettes, flowers and leaves – some of the most typical elements of craftwork on Venetian mirrors – 
in the place of beards, eyes, noses and hair. The mask 
and the mirror are both typical Venetian artistic products: combining the two creates a new mask 
which maintains the decorative details typical of the antique Venetian mirror while downplaying any seriousness with irony and levity.

Dead end series II

Dead end is a series of hand blown Murano glass vases.

Murano has a very long history on glass blowing and for this vases i have been inspired by the traditional technique of lantern making.

Molten glass is an incredible mouldable material: it is viscous enough to be blown and gradually hardens as it looses heat. What happens when the expansion of the glass is obstructed by an external element?

This project investigates the strength and the free will of this material, the master must blow with all his strength until the glass stops by itself.

Dandelion Parade 

With Nina Mršnik 

Dandelion parade aims to reconnect people with nature and to create community awareness. The participants dress in special costumes equipped with tools with which to forage wild herbs, edible plants and seasonal goods. The collection of costumes triggers memories of rural folklore and, inspired by traditional items, they also serve various other functions: one carries communally collected food, another collects wooden sticks, one serves as a water source along the way, and another is for transporting all the tools needed. The performance requires a collective effort to gather enough food for a communal dinner.

Nike The 1 Reimagined

An installation commissioned by Nike for Antonioli in Milan to celebrate The 1 Reimagined, a revisitation of the classic and iconic Air Force 1 and Air Jordan, designed by a team of women for women. Pics by Federico Floriani

Strata Wall Lamps

A limited series of fused glass wall lamps, part of the Strata collection

Available from Swing Design Gallery.

Strata

Glass fusion is an operation which fuses together different coloured flat sheets of glass in an electric oven. It resembles the work of collage yet on a two-dimensional plain.

Strata is a mini series of plates created with the concept of overlapping material whereby the glass is positioned in space to form a structure.

The material becomes both substance and form, creating a casual overlapping effect as if it were a natural sediment.

Available from Swing Design Gallery.