Costanza Paravicini

A table full of creativity

• For Costanza, “ceramics is like music”
• She takes inspiration from the finest traditions of Italian pottery
• Each tableware set can be personalised and made-to-measure

In the early 1990s, Costanza Paravicini was looking for tableware to suit her tastes. Not finding anything quite up to her expectations, she decided to embark on an idea that was as simple as it was ambitious: create plates and dining sets like the ones that used to be made in the past, handmade but suitable for everyday use. “In the beginning,” she recalls, “I used to throw away everything I did! Luckily I had studied at art school and had a good hand for painting, but still it took me years to achieve the necessary level of skill.” Costanza’s daughters Benedetta and Margherita now work at her side, bringing, as she says, “a wave of freshness” to the production. Together they create tailor-made, customisable tablewear which reflects the personality of its purchaser.

Interview

© Stefan Giftthaler

© Marco Dabbicco

What decoration technique do you use?

We use an underglaze technique called gran fuoco sulla terraglia bianca (high temperature firing on white earthenware), resulting in decorations that are bright, indelible and non-toxic.

Where does inspiration come from?

Initially, we were inspired by the Lombard tradition of the 1700s, which was spectacular in the field of ceramics and porcelain. Our taste has since evolved, and today inspiration comes from everywhere: fashion, art, exhibitions, newspapers, architecture, embroidery, prints...

Is personalised tableware often requested?

Yes, and it has been increasing over the years, also because the public is very sensitive to the concept of 'lifestyle'. People are more aware of the value of craftsmanship and they have finally recognised that a master artisan is someone who can respond to very particular needs.

Does innovation play a role in your work?

We try to combine tradition and innovation by giving our decorations a contemporary twist. For our printed collections we use digital printing, which in recent years has reached very high levels of quality. But the object is always handcrafted and made with traditional techniques.

Costanza Paravicini is a master artisan: she began her career in 1990 and she started teaching in 2000

Where