alessandro zambelli's bronzini collection for portego at maison & objet 2017

maison et objet: crafted with an antique glimmer and art deco accents, product designer alessandro zambelli‘s bronzini collection for italian brand portego is showcased at the maison et objet spring 2017 edition in paris. the collection includes small home furnishing accessories, featuring a set of bronze wall-coat hooks made with the ancient technique of casting metal in sand mould. 

alessandro zambelli bronzini collection for portego: detail view

manufactured by portego and designed by alessandro zambelli, the bronzini collection at the maison et objet 2017 edition draws influence from the renaissance pichiotti which were extremely refined door knockers offering great visual quality and deep allegorical meanings. these elegant pieces once adorned the front doors of noble residences and palazzi of the era. for this contemporary series, small bronze sculptures combine typical renaissance taste — in terms of perfection of form — with the minimalist aesthetics of art deco.

the bronze hooks are mirror-polished on the front

the collection exhibited at maison et objet is created with flowing lines — at times clean and linear, at times softer and more rounded —  that follow after each other to delineate original geometric surfaces. their reflective finish gives back glimpses of images, light and colours to the environment – fragments of a reality eternally suspended between mimesis and abstraction. after being removed from the mould, each bronzini is mirror-polished on the front to highlight the bronze’s rose-coloured shine. on the other hand, the finish of the thick sections is left porous — retaining the visible traces of the casting process. all stages of this ancient artisan technique are strictly performed by hand. the elements composing this collection come in three different sizes:  x-small (9 cm L x 10 cm H), small (10 cm L x 11 cm H) and medium (38 cm L x 23 cm H) — weighing in at 2.7 kg of solid bronze.

the finish on the thick sections of the bronze sculptures are left porous

the collection evokes the renaissance picchiotti, which were highly elegant door knockers

bronzini’s mould

all the stages of the ancient artisan technique are strictly performed by hand

an overview of portego’s new products and brand’s icons

overview (2)

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edited by: lea zeitoun | designboom