All posts tagged italian design
Shopping in Rome: ceramic clocks at Raku
The “Ceramica Raku” shop is another of Rome’s boutique stores that exclusively sells ceramic clocks. The shop has been part of the Montesi family business which was established in 1985 and which sells these Italian ceramic clocks locally and internationally.
The shop is located halfway between the Pantheon and the Piazza di Pietra. The name comes from a special firing technique for the ceramic and all the pieces are handmade. They say: “We make everything by hand exclusively by Italian crafstmen. The only exception is the mechanical pieces which are German.”
The Raku ceramic is characteristic for its shine which comes from the firing process. The brightness can be seen in this gallery of the clocks, where we can also see some the different pieces. Many of the clocks are dedicated to Rome’s icons (the family is proud of its Roman heritage), and some are more metaphoric with old Latin sayings. Prices are reasonable, ranging from 25 to 130 euros. The store is on Via dei Pastini and you can also visit the Raku website for more information.
Shopping in Rome: Raku ceramic clocks
Photos | Sara Regimenti
Shopping in Rome: women's design shop Leartigiane.it
Cultural and women’s design association Leartigiane.it recently opened their new shop in Rome, near Torre Argentina, where you can find furniture, interior decorations, jewellery and handmade clothes on display. The association is design to support women’s craftmanship and the shop is a showcase for paintings and accessories, too, being a small corner of art and design on the Rome shopping scene.
The association was established in 1999 and now the Leartiginae.it shop provides a space for weekly “exhibitions” where the members change the works on sale. Sometimes running to a particular theme, the shop recently had a focus on pets and was selling the service of pet portaits done at owners’ homes.
Other creations, including examples like cachemire fabric sold for made-to-measure pullovers, can also be purchased online and the name of the shop as a website is designed to promote the online component of the association. Bruna Pietropaoli of the organisation says:
Shopping in Rome: Leartigiane.it
Continue reading: Shopping in Rome: women's design shop Leartigiane.it
Roberto Cavalli's house: Italian architecture and design
Roberto Cavalli’s luxury Italian villa in Tuscany has been renovated by Italian architect Italo Rota, who has fitted the house with metallic sheets and decorative motifs. The metallic “lace” covers the facade and was made in Italy specifically for Cavalli. The cut-out sheet is styled to look like a hung fabric.
The laser-worked side panels in stainless steel can create any kind of design, evoking flowers and organic shapes, which give a changeable effect to the house in the resulting play of light. The panels are electronically operated and can be opened and closed further contributing to the mozaic effect of light and blurring the lines of functionality and style with the structure of the house.
Roberto Cavalli luxury villa design
Continue reading: Roberto Cavalli's house: Italian architecture and design
Italian architecture and interior design in Porto Cervo
Summer is not around the corner I’m afraid; winter is here to stay..for three months at very least, but this gorgeous house overlooking the sea at Porto Cervo makes one long for sunshine and bathing in the blue sea. Recently restored by architect Rudi De Nardo, the house, elegantly furnished with creations by Patricia Urquiola, Jakob Wagner, Naoto Fukasawa and B&B Italia, is the epitome of Italian taste and style. Have a look at our gallery.
Source | AD
Continue reading: Italian architecture and interior design in Porto Cervo
Italian design: Cup, the washbasin by Meneghello Paolelli Associati for Artceram
Shaped like a huge cup, this sophisticated washbasin has been designed by Meneghello Paolelli Associati for Artceram; the sharpness of black against white (that’s my favourite version) creates an elegant contrast which, along with its unusual shape, will take your guests aback!
Continue reading: Italian design: Cup, the washbasin by Meneghello Paolelli Associati for Artceram
Italian design: Savio Firmino children's room furniture
If you are planning to furnish your child’s bedroom and you have money to spend, the Notte Fatata, the new Savio Firmino line designed for children’s bedrooms, can offer you the right solution. Made up of beautifully crafted pieces of eco-friendly furniture, the Notte Fatata collection will make your child feel like a real prince or princess. All furniture is made of precious wood and features elegant pieces of inlay!
Continue reading: Italian design: Savio Firmino children's room furniture
Italian design: "Memories from the future" by Alessi
Alberto Alessi is about to launch a new collection of houseware products inspired by the past. During the 1920s, 30s and 40s - Mr Alessi said - the design was not so important and manufacturers used to pay more attention to the functionality and costs of their products than to their exterior and what they look like. So this is why I decided to create this new collection called “Memories from the future” featuring teapots, shakers and trays.
Continue reading: Italian design: "Memories from the future" by Alessi
Valextra iPad luxury cover
The iPad is going to be the next iPhone which was the next iPod, in terms of luxury accessories. Italian brand Valextra has created this iPad cover for the new Apple computer, as part of its men’s spring-summer 2011 fashion range. The cover has a simple, practical design, but which is classy enough for the slick iPad.
The cover functions like a book cover and photo frame which can prop up the iPad for reading a book or writing. It can even be put in a vertical position for watching a film. The Valextra iPad cover is made from leather and comes in cobalt and cyprus, or the traditional colours of black, red and grey.
Source | Valextra.it
Italian painter Caravaggio's remains found
The remains of Italian painter Caravaggio have been found in a cemetery at Porto Ercole, in Grosseto. Via carbon dating and metal tests to determine the possible presence of lead and mercury residue (commonly used by painters), scientists are 85 percent sure that the bones identified by them are those of the 16-17th century artist.
It was believed that Caravaggio was buried in the Porto Ercole cemetery in 1610, so carbon dating has been used to determine the age of the bones. Known as Caravaggio, the artist was, in fact, Michelangelo Merisi by name and so scientists started with the Merisi names in the cemetery. Caravaggio is considered the ‘maestro’ of the school of Baroque art and his remains have been found just a few weeks before the 400th anniversary of his death (July 18, 1610).
Recently, an exhibition of his work in Rome had record crowd numbers attend and in an article in the New York Times, art historian Philip Sohm poses the question whether this “Michelangelo” Caravaggio has become more popular than the Michelangelo of the Renaissance. With this timely find of the remains of Caravaggio, Baroque is back in the spotlight.
Source | Il Messaggero
Luxury Italian watches: limited edition Panerai Radiomir Regatta 2010
In order to celebrate the sixth edition of Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge, an international circuit of regattas reserved for vintage and classic sailing boats, the Officine Panerai has launched the Radiomir Regatta watch; this amazing time-piece features split-seconds chronograph with a 1/8th second foudroyante function and an express scale in knots for the calculation of the average speed of the vessel. The watch also has a 47mm brushed titanium case - “OP” crown, Panerai OP XXI caliber (automatic mechanical) - and leather strap with brushed titanium buckle.
Source | Panerai.com
125 years of Bulgari jewellery on display in Rome
The historic Italian brand of Bulgari will be on display from May 22nd to September 13th for a 125-year anniversary celebrated in the event “Between eternity and history: 1884-2009″ at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome. About 500 jewelled objects are on display for the Bulgari anniversary, including watches and precious stones from the Bulgari vintage collection, generally kept by the company itself, or coming from private owners who have donated their pieces for the few months.
The jewells are the central focus of the exhibition, but will appear with a rich collection of documents including the best in Bulgari design, drawings and photos from different eras. The photos include famous artists, aristocrats and renowned customers of Bulgari jewells over the years.
For glamour fans, there is an entire section dedicated to Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita” and its characters, such as Anna Magnani and Gina Lollobrigida; and another section dedicated entirely to Elizabeth Taylor and 16 pieces of extraordinary value, which recount the love story with Richard Burton who gave Taylor a diamon and emerald Bulgari brooch at more than 18 carats.
Source | Adnkronos and Deluxeblog
Photo | Flickr
Milan design week FuoriSalone
Milan design week event, FuoriSalone, is undoubtedly one of the most popular events in this Italian metropolitan city, and here we give you a few shots from the design show. With presentations, inaugurations, parties and events, the FuoriSalone can be a frenetic week for Milanese who need to say “I was there”.
The Tortona zone looks like a Spanish fair with people laughing, drinking and having fun. The incredible number of people at this Milan event means it can sometimes be difficult to move around, especially at the That’s Design event dedicated to emerging international design schools.
Worth a look is the Nhow design hotel with four floors open to exhibition, with strange furniture, light design and bizarre objects on display. For a look at some of the Milan design on show, see the gallery below.
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