Inspired by the rural world epitomized by the farms of Lombardy, designer Roberto Sironi’s latest project, Cascina, draws on traditional techniques in a series of new pieces that contain decades of memory in every inch. The collection, which consists of a tall container to store pasta (essential for the Italian at heart) and three jars of varying sizes for seeds, legumes, etc., relies on the elegant simplicity of the Lombard terracotta ceramics and solid beechwood lids; minimal, reduced forms are the vehicle for a fascinating map of uneven veins that connect the functional series. Each rough, exterior surface is lent its unique texture by the time-honored practice of combining two different types of clay in one of the world’s last fornaci (factory for clay production), while the interiors are gloss glazed for a smooth finish. Through a raw and tactile aesthetic, the forms allude to their origin as well as their pure, naturally nourishing contents. Deeply rooted in past methods of making, these handcrafted gems are proof that some things never go out of style. See more of Sironi’s work here.
