Italian Designer Antonio Aricò Creates Tableware for Copenhagen Embassy
The Italian Embassy in Copenhagen launched a three-month residency for a young Italian designer to create an official table service expressing Italian excellence. The 2016 'Resident Designer' competition, judged by Marco Sammicheli, Stine Gam, Enrico Fratesi (GamFratesi), and Ginevra Bocini (Bitossi Home), selected Milan-based designer Antonio Aricò. Known for his narrative-driven, hybrid objects blending art and design, Aricò drew inspiration from Gio Ponti's projects for Richard Ginori and Venini. The resulting tableware set, named 'Le Perle,' features spherical, pearl-like forms in various sizes, stripped of formal complexity for simplicity and elegance. The teapot, lacking a handle, must be held like a pearl, balancing natural forms and surreal functions. A tea service followed, soon to be produced by Florentine company Bitossi.
Key facts
- Italian Embassy in Copenhagen hosted a three-month design residency.
- 2016 'Resident Designer' competition selected Antonio Aricò.
- Jury included Marco Sammicheli, Stine Gam, Enrico Fratesi, and Ginevra Bocini.
- Aricò is a Milan-based designer known for narrative, hybrid objects.
- He drew inspiration from Gio Ponti's work for Richard Ginori and Venini.
- The tableware set is named 'Le Perle' (The Pearls).
- Design features spherical, pearl-like forms in various sizes.
- Teapot has no handle, requiring a unique holding gesture.
- Bitossi, a Florentine company, produced the pieces.
- A tea service followed the initial tableware set.
Entities
Artists
- Antonio Aricò
- Gio Ponti
- Marco Sammicheli
- Stine Gam
- Enrico Fratesi
- Ginevra Bocini
Institutions
- Italian Embassy in Copenhagen
- Bitossi Home
- Richard Ginori
- Venini
- GamFratesi
Locations
- Copenhagen
- Denmark
- Milan
- Italy
- Florence