Magna Graecia Centerpiece Vase 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 draw on their vocabulary: capitals, meander friezes, waves, antique busts, and amphorae with battle scenes. Aricò chose terracotta for its ordinary nature—“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 shaped using handmade molds, which is why no two are exactly alike: the shade and surface finish vary from one piece to the next. The designer intends them for a terrace, garden, or veranda just as much as for a living room or entryway. However, Seletti does not provide any information regarding glazing, frost resistance, or watertightness: for outdoor use, a sheltered spot 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 (Great Greece) refers to the cities founded by Greek colonists on the coasts of Southern Italy and Sicily from the 8th century BCE. Aricò, who was born and is based in Calabria, draws from this 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 refer to the Riace bronzes, and the head vases revive the tradition of Caltagirone ceramic heads. The capital no longer sits atop 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.