It was 1976 when Italo Bosa opened the workshop that bears his name, in Borso Del Grappa, in the province of Treviso, to produce ceramic objects. After all, the Bassano area has been known for centuries for its excellent craftsmanship in ceramic work. It is a tradition that the founder of what would become the prestigious "maison Bosa," has excellently interpreted in his creations, combining it with innovation. Bosa's signature ceramic pieces are handmade at all stages, from plaster mold to firing, from glazing to decoration. The research carried out by Italo Bosa and his collaborators, among whom are his wife and daughters, has enabled the company to overcome the technical limitations posed by the material to create oversized designs and complex molds. This is also thanks to collaboration with reputed designers, such as Marco Zanuso Jr and the Palomba-Serafini studio, joined over the years by names such as Jaime Hayon, Patricia Urquiola, Luca Nichetto, Sebastian Heckner, Elena Salmistraro and Ionna Vautrin. The company has grown to be known worldwide, is present in more than 50 countries and boasts collaborations with prestigious brands such as Minotti, Moroso, B&B Italia, Maison Matisse, DeBeers, Ferrari, Baccarat and many others.
Vases and sculptures, designer ceramics by Bosa
The catalog of ceramic objects signed Bosa amazes with its sometimes dreamlike and sometimes playful dimensions. Collections of vases, sculptures and small tables designed by leading artists and designers that constitute a treasure chest of unique and precious objects. Jaime Hayon signs the Hopebird Special Editions collection of ceramic sculptures, characterized by the nonconformist and humorous flair typical of the designer's work. The protagonists of these delicate sculptures are birds, depicted in an upright position and in the anthropomorphic pose of peering into the distance. The ceramics are glazed in white and hand-painted using a sophisticated palette that includes details in black, yellow and 24 kt gold. The Spanish designer also curated the Baile collection, which includes a gold and blue version of the Hopebird sculpture, the fancifully shaped Atomo candle holder, the ironic Kingvase vases, and the fun multicolored ceramic animal masks Maskhayon. Elena Salmistraro gave birth to the famous characters in the Most Illustrious series. These are design masters Achille Castiglioni, Riccardo Dalisi, Michele De Lucchi and Alessandro Mendini, to whom the designer dedicates a collection that is a tribute, combining in each sculpture somatic features and portions of the designer's most significant works. And again, from Salmistraro's fervid imagination comes the Primates ceramic vase collection, inspired by the relationship between man and monkey and characterized by fine details and colorful textures.
Not just ornaments: the Bosa coffee tables and tableware
The Bosa catalog places ceramic ornaments alongside the ever-present tableware, but also extraordinary sculpture-tables. For the table, Brazilian designer Nika Zupanc signs the Mr. & Mrs. Move tea service, which includes, in addition to cups with a pleated surface, a teapot, sugar bowl, cake cloche and cookie bowl characterized by a delicate heart-shaped handle painted in gold. Jaime Hayon's little birds also land on the table, with the Sale e Pepe set and jugs from the Pellicani series. Patricia Urquiola signs the H2O Bilbao jug, which impresses with its slanting sculptural shape, a tribute to the utensil used to collect milk typical of the Basque country. Sam Baron contributes the scenic risers from the Issima series, while the set of plates for setting the table in style is entrusted to the sassy imagination of Jaime Hayon, who signs the Table Collection in glossy white glazed stoneware with hand-painted graphic signs and decorations in gold and black. The ceramic stools in the Bosa catalog actually lend themselves to other functions, from a side table to a simple decorative piece. Extraordinary is the Bossanova collection, designs by Spanish Pepa Reverter, declined in black and white or color versions. The shapes, consisting of overlapping geometric modules, are reminiscent of the columns of imaginary temples buried in the rainforest. Jaime Hayon's irony and unscrupulousness strikes again in the mushroom-shaped T-Table, included in the Baile collection. Made of ceramic and hand-painted in countless decorative variations, it is available in three different sizes.