Paola Paronetto’s Bosco and Pistilli vases, crafted through her innovative paper clay technique in Pordenone, Italy, mimic natural forms and evoke playful abstraction. Unveils at the Paris Maison&Objet fair, Bosco consists of slender, branch-like vessels, while Pistilli offers tiered designs inspired by flower pistils. Each vase, made by hand, exemplifies Paronetto’s mastery over the decade-long development of her paper-infused ceramics, which allow for delicate vertical folds and intricate details.
Italian ceramicist Paola Paronetto has introduced two new vase collections. Working from her hometown in the Alpine village of Pordenone, Paronetto has perfected a unique process that combines paper pulp with clay to create ceramics featuring delicate, fragile-like forms and proportions.
By incorporating paper pulp into the clay mixture, additional stability is achieved. This technique also allows for the inclusion of vertical folds that remain after the firing process.
The new designs, Bosco and Pistilli, were revealed earlier this month at the Maison&Objet homeware fair in Paris. Both collections draw inspiration from natural forms.
Bosco consists of slender vessels with arms that extend outward, resembling tree branches. In Italian, “bosco” translates to wood.
This collection is among Paronetto’s most challenging creations, requiring precise control of the mixture to ensure the branches hold their form throughout production.
Pistilli, a series of tiered vessels available in various shapes and sizes, takes its name from the pistil, the female reproductive part of a flower.
Both series incorporate tubular forms that evoke abstract, playful characteristics. According to Paronetto, these objects achieve their full impact when displayed in groups, playing with varying heights and colors, similar to patterns found in nature.
Paronetto has spent over a decade refining her paper clay technique. Every piece is handmade on her potter’s wheel, ensuring each one is unique.
Her best-known work, the Cartocci series, includes vessel designs that resemble bottles, cacti, and mushrooms. Recently, she applied the same technique to create ceramic pendant lamps.
Gallery
