Monday, October 24, 2011

Fabulous Asta Barocca Flatware by Alessi Debuts This Fall


New Flatware I Love:  Chic, Witty and Affordable 

I’ve always loved and admired Alessi tableware, and cooking and dining accessories, cutlery, and everything designed for the studio by Philippe Starck.

Alessi’s designs are sexy and Italian. They remind me of happy sunny days in Rome with endless lunches always involving lots of gesturing and wine.

Now Alessi has gone romantic. I’m completely won over by Alessi’s poetic new Asta Barocca cutlery and serveware. Come and see the whole collection.

Just delicious.


Asta Barocca is a refined interpretation of modern design, with a twist. It revolves around classic models of this genre, with swirls and twirls inspired by classic silverware ornamentation and poking a little fun at flatware’s archetypal themes. 


Asta Barocca Flatware in 18/10 stainless steel with relief decoration Design is by the great Alessandro Mendini, with Young Hee Cha. Five-piece set, $82. 



Asta Barocca cutlery is a fine combination of the simplicity of form and the exuberant decorative effect of the relief detailing.

Mendini created a fine juxtaposition between floral decoration that recalls some of the stylistic motifs of the Baroque period, and the severity of form.

It’s an Alessi project that combines a strong decorative element with a light and elegant character.


Alessi’s New Directions
At last year’s major Oggetti e Progetti exhibition in Munich, Alessi presented its newest trends. Two projects were designed by Alessandro Mendini, a long-time Alessi collaborator. First is the Anna Gong cake stand. His second project, Asta Barocca flatware, is an updated and slightly exaggerated version of refined Baroque flatware designs with their characteristic elaboration. The silvery embroidery is a marked departure for Alessi.

Alberto Alessi explains: “On one hand, as we understand it here at Alessi, we are searching for a new simplicity, modesty, and sometimes even austerity, in design. On the other hand, we plan designs that are a continuation, perhaps even an acceleration, of the search for highly expressive forms and decorative elements that, at least from a certain point of view, might be considered over the top.”

Thus Asta Barocca. 



In the US, Asta Barocca will be in stores and online at alessi-shop.com by November. To locate international retailers, readers can go to www.alessi.com.

Prices start at $8.50US for the mocha coffee spoon through $67 for the ladle.

The material is 18/10 stainless steel mirror polished with relief decoration.

The collection includes: Table spoon, fork, knife, dessert fork, dessert knife, teaspoon, coffee spoon, mocha coffee, ladle, serving spoon, serving fork, cake server, and pastry fork.


Designer/Architect Alessandro Mendini Born in Milan in 1931, former director of Casabella, Modo and Domus, winner of a Compasso d'Oro and designer of the Groninger Museum in Groningen, the Casino in Arosa, the Forum in Omegna, he is a designer, architect and image consultant for Philips, Swarovski, Swatch, and Bisazza.

Our projects are the linguistic components of an ongoing puzzle that is never completed. The sense lies in the progressive utopian hypothesis of reaching an impossible synthesis; sense lies in this expanded, centrifugal movement that has no end. The message of our work lies in this atmospheric dust, this polyphonic rhythm. A throng of figures full of contrasts.” – Alessandro and Francesco Mendini

About Alessi: 
Alessi works closely with top designers around the world including Zaha Hadid, Karin Santorso, Patricia Urquiola, Pierre Charpin, and Alesssandro Mendini (an Alessi maestro).

The latest collection from the Italian design factory features new designs by legends Terence Conran, Marcel Wanders and Eero Aarnio, as well as up-and-comers LUCY.D and Pauline Deltour, among others.

With a vast product line that includes pasta strainers, restaurant fruit baskets, even a designer flyswatter, the Alessi company, founded in 1921 by Giovanni Alessi, has long been at the forefront of inspired product design. Among the best known of the company's product range are Richard Sapper's kettle with a two-tone whistle, Michael Graves' kettle with the bird shaped whistle, Massimo Giacon's Mr Suicide, and Philippe Starck's playful three-legged Juicy Salif citrus squeezer.

The company has created a dynasty by offering practical products for restaurants (serving trays and everyday cutlery) and by elevating everyday design. Officina Alessi hires top designers, innovators, and dreamers to creating some of the most celebrated cult objects of our time.

www.alessi.com


PHOTOS:
Images of Asta Barocca tableware courtesy of Alessi. Published with express permission.

2 comments:

JMW said...

Gorgeous. Works of art.

the modern sybarite ™ said...

Unconventional of what I think Alessi is all about, but then very chic!