Magna Graecia Capitello column by Antonio Aricò

Magna Graecia is a terracotta collection designed by Antonio Aricò for Seletti and presented at Maison&Objet in January 2023. The name refers to the Greek cities of Southern Italy, and the pieces incorporate their vocabulary: capitals, meander friezes, waves, antique busts, and amphorae with battle scenes. Aricò chose terracotta for its ordinariness—"a seemingly very poor material, with which you can create magic," he told designboom—and for its raw color and irregular thickness, which he celebrates rather than corrects. The pieces are formed in handmade molds, which explains why no two are exactly alike: the shade and surface finish vary from one piece to the next. The designer intends them for use on a patio, in a garden, or on a veranda, as well as in a living room or entryway. However, Seletti does not provide any information regarding glazing, frost resistance, or watertightness; for outdoor use, a sheltered location remains the prudent choice. All pieces in the series share the same clay, which allows them to be grouped together without worrying about differences in finish.

Where the design comes from

Magna Graecia refers to the cities founded by Greek colonists on the coasts of Southern Italy and Sicily beginning in the 8th century BCE. Aricò, who was born and is based in Calabria, draws from it motif by motif: the Dorico vase cites the Doric order, the Greca vase the meander frieze, the Onda vase the wave pattern, the statues refer to the Riace bronzes, and the head vases echo the tradition of the ceramics of Caltagirone. The capital no longer surmounts anything: it serves as a pedestal or plant stand. Together, they form an archaeological repertoire treated without solemnity, which the publisher presents as contemporary irony.