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 visual vocabulary: capitals, meander friezes, waves, antique busts, and amphora...
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 visual vocabulary: capitals, meander friezes, waves, antique busts, and amphorae with combat scenes. Aricò chose terracotta for its ordinariness—"a seemingly very poor material, with which one can perform magic," he told designboom—as well as 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 item to another. The designer intends them for a terrace, garden, or conservatory just as much as for a living room or entryway. However, Seletti does not provide any specifications regarding glazing, frost resistance, or water tightness; 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 concern for variations in finish.
This stool is the pink version. The form remains the same, with the head serving as the seat and the fluted base as the pedestal; only the color is applied to the terracotta. Dimensions: W 33 × D 32 × H 46.5 cm.
There are three finishes available for this model: raw terracotta, blue, and pink. The pink and blue versions are sold at the same price, while the raw terracotta is slightly less expensive.
Where the design comes from
Magna Graecia refers to the cities founded by Greek colonists on the coasts of Southern Italy and Sicily starting in the 8th century BCE. Aricò, who was born and is based in Calabria, draws inspiration from it motif by motif: the Dorico vase cites the Doric order, the Greca vase the meander frieze, the Onda vase the outline of a wave; the statues recall the Riace bronzes, and the head vases echo the traditional ceramic heads of Caltagirone. The capital, meanwhile, no longer surmounts anything: it serves as a base or pedestal. The collection as a whole forms an archaeological repertoire treated without solemnity, which the manufacturer presents as a piece of contemporary irony.
