GHIDINI1961: a new collection of brass designs curated by stefano giovannoni

ghidini 1961 – a new collection of brass designs curated by stefano giovannoni
image courtesy of ghidini 1961

in the province of brescia, italy one finds the unparalleled italian manufacturing excellence of ghidini bosco. a company that specializes in die casting brass, aluminium and zamak, ghidini bosco excells at combining advanced technologies with a passion for fine craftsmanship, applying their expertise to a range of products. for more than 50 years, ghidini bosco has been working with the best designers, architects and industry professionals to manufacture classic and contemporary pieces, as well as carry out custom projects. with all aspects of production taking place in-house at villa carcina, it has become known for its particular attention to detail throughout the entire production process — from concept phase to realization. it is these qualities that form the basis of ghidini 1961 — a new design brand that has been formed under the art direction of stefano giovannoni, who has brought together a group of diverse creatives to consider the properties of brass, a material often disregarded by the contemporary design industry, through new and innovative contemporary designs for mass consumption.

‘take me to miami’ collection by nika zupanc
table, chair, mirror, plate
polished brass
various dimensions

launched during milan design week 2016 at spazio rossano orlandi, the initial collection presents pieces by andrea branzi, fernando and humberto campana, richard hutten, elisa giovannoni, stefano giovannoni, studio job and nika zupanc; who have designed a diverse range of pieces — from fine jewelery boxes to tableware to furniture to industrial lighting. collectively they showcase the particular luster of brass in a way that celebrates the overlooked material.

‘kaleidos’ by campana brothers
sculptural wall light in stainless steel
polished brass
101.4 x 93.4 cm, 46.473 x 5.13 cm

‘kaleidos’ by the campana brothers, is composed of six hinged mirror blades that can be opened or closed. the brass base and gilded mirrors create a kaleidoscope of golden tones and reflections. ‘the piece can be used as a lamp as it is backlit‘, explains fernando campana. ‘it will be a mirror with the possibility of different sizes and colors. a geometric piece that can produce various designs. we were inspired by lygia clark’s bicho critter sculptures,’ adds humberto campana. ‘this is our first collaboration with ghidini and we really enjoyed working together. they devote great concern to achieving refined finishes.’ – campana brothers

‘giotto’ by andrea branzi
floor lamp with plexi terminal
polished brass
45 x 25 x 180 cm

‘giotto’ by andrea branzi
hanging frame that supports photos, small containers, books and other knick knacks
polished brass
45 x 25 x 180 cm

andrea branzi has created three distinct pieces for ghidini 1961: the ‘giotto’ floor lamp, ‘incrocio’ shelf, and ‘porto’ console, each one an expression of geometric forms with backlit elements.

‘incrocio’ by andrea branzi
hanging frame that supports photos, small containers, books and other knick knacks
polished brass
204 x 12 x 134,7 cm
‘miami’ table and chair by nika zupanc
table, chair
stainless steel, polished brass
105 x 60 x 75 cm; 45 x 43,5 x 82 cm

nika zupanc’s ‘take me to miami’ series brings forth pieces that recall old school classrooms and furniture. just when you’re feeling down, and a little bit battered or numbed by life in general, along comes the spectacularly shiny square-metre ‘miami’ table — a perfectly mad place on which to produce the blueprint of your very individualism.

the ‘miami’ chair is the perfect partner to the table’s personal transformative power. lightly push it back away from the desk, step in between the two objects and take a seat on the essence of simplicity. stripped to its iconic form, on the chair you ultimately find yourself arranged, alight the peak of your super fabulous golden self.

‘flamingo’ lamp by nika zupanc
table lamp
polished brass
59 x 43 cm

the vibrant stream of light coursing from the adjustable self-standing steel ‘flamingo’ lamp is all about brightening up even the coldest of corners. misjudgements, misguidance and misfits, they all disappear under the melting embrace of light.

‘sunset’ mirror by nika zupanc
mirror
polished brass
87 x 76 x 1,3 cm

the round 50-inch surface of the ‘sunset’ mirror is sunk into the graphic embrace of two palm fronds. the wall-mounted design declaration of a true summer paradise.

‘knotted cherry’ by nika zupanc
jewelery box
cast and polished brass
⦰ 4,7 x 7,6 cm; ø 12 x 19 cm

fiasco. guilt. fear of love. a place to hide all the things we secretly desire yet are too scared to utter. the luscious things the perfect lover knows are never to be told. she dreams, she wonders, where to find this place. first she thinks Heaven, then the beach; in the end she finds this place in the ‘knotted cherry’.

‘rabbit paperweight’ and ‘rabbit doorstopper’ by stefano giovannoni
cast bronze, polished brass
5.6 x 9.8 x 11.4 cm; 10.3 x 18 x 20.95 cm

stefano giovannoni has designed a family of precious metal objects that celebrate the form of a rabbit. in different cultures, both eastern and western, the animal is a symbol of sweetness and fertility — a sweet and auspicious object that brings good luck and good wishes, for ghidini 1961 giovannoni has translated the rabbit into salt and pepper shakers, a paperweight and doorstopper.

‘rabbit’ salt & pepper shakers by stefano giovannoni
condiment set
cast bronze, polished brass
4 x 8.35 cm

‘omini portatavaglioli’ by stefano giovannoni
napkin holders
polished brass
4 x 4 x 4 cm

stefano giovannoni has also designed ‘omini’ — a family of products that plays on the inclusion and the relationship between the human figure with a series of monolithic objects from geometric and minimalist design. small lilliputians attack and animate the pure forms of the pieces, referring to the natural-artificial and abstract-figurative contradictions that have always characterized the relationship between man and the object.

‘omini’ salt and pepper shakers by stefano giovannoni
condiment set
polished brass
4 x 4 x 4 cm

‘omini ciotola grande’ by stefano giovannoni
serving bowl
stainless steel, polished brass
⦰ 26.6 x 13.5 cm

‘factory’ by elisa giovannoni
suspension light
polished brass
⦰800cm, ⦰600cm

the bell metal lamp used in industrial halls is a no-name icon — a balance between technical and functional image and memory. elisa giovannonni has developed a noble metal version of the hanging light with a smooth and reflective bell. its distinguishing features are the casting that encloses the bulb holder and the anchor hook, while polycarbonate closes the bell to diffuse the light.

‘axonometry cube’ and ‘axonometry parallelepipedo’ by elisa giovannoni
serving tray in stainless steel
polished brass
15 x 17.3 x 2.5 cm, 15 x 17.3 x 2.5 cm, 15 x 15 x 2.5 cm; 15 x 34.7 x 2.5 cm, 15 x 34.7 x 2.5 cm, 15 x 15 x 2.5 cm

the compositional schemes elisa giovannoni’s family of small trays are axonometric isometric projections of two parallelepipeds which create a three-dimensional optical effect implemented by inclined edges and contrasting metal finishes. like in a game, you can get as many configurations as you wish, always creating different designs.

‘kaleidos’ by campana brothers
sculptural wall light in stainless steel
polished brass
101.4 x 93.4 cm, 46.473 x 5.13 cm
‘here (thimble)’ by studio job
ice bucket
cast and polished brass
ø 24,75 x 24,75 cm

studio job drew inspiration from tailoring traditions and care of the smallest details to realize their supreme ‘here (thimble)’. the ice bucket is represented by a gigantic thimble with etchings.

‘opera tables’ by richard hutten
rectangular, square and round side tables
stainless steel, polished brass
56 x 25 x 60 cm; 28 x 60 cm; ⦰ 28 x 60 cm