The Playful Odyssey Brought to Life by the Seletti Magna Grecia Collection
Calabrian designer Antonio Aricò unveiled the Seletti Magna Grecia Collection at the 2023 edition of the Maison&Objet fair. Influenced by the rich heritage of ancient Greek settlements in southern Italy, the series showcases a range of stunning terracotta objects. These Seletti terracotta vases incorporate motifs from Doric and Ionic columns, wave patterns, and busts in an homage to antiquity. Aricò’s designs blend traditional southern Italian craftsmanship with his signature contemporary and playful aesthetic. The essence of the Seletti Magna Grecia Collection was described by the designer and the avant-garde brand as an ancient story brought into contemporary daily life with a touch of tongue-in cheek elements as well as refined style.
Antonio Aricò designed the Seletti Magna Grecia Collection as a versatile array of objects that suit both outdoor and indoor settings. These pieces can easily enhance terraces, gardens, verandas, lounges, living rooms, and entrance halls with their distinctive charm. Additionally, Aricò used terracotta for the collection, a material prevalent in southern Italy and closely associated with Mediterranean tradition.
Terracotta vases and decorative objects inspired by antique designs.
Captivated by material’s warmth and natural imperfections, Aricò crafted a series of Seletti terracotta vases and objects that exude skilled craftsmanship and explore the legacy of Magna Graecia designs. The collection comprises an assortment of both functional and decorative pieces. Among the functional pieces, freestanding and wall-mounted vases embellished with Doric, Greek, or wave patterns make a striking connection between ancient objects and contemporary design. The Seletti Magna Grecia series also features a jug resembling classic Grecian pottery and an Ionic column that doubles as a pedestal or ashtray.
Decorative objects within the Seletti Magna Grecia Collection include the busts Man and Poppea, two large and sensual ‘bronzes’ inspired by the famous Riace sculptures, male and female head-shaped vases influenced by Caltagirone ceramics, and a cup and an ‘amphora’ jar adorned with battle scenes and love stories. Photography © Seletti.