We talk to Piero Lissoni about his new Japanese Collection
04.2022
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Piero Lissoni tells us about the inspiration behind the Japanese Collection and why he is so fascinated by the Orient
Three exquisite stone bowls designed by Piero Lissoni
An exotic undertone that never becomes brash and which evokes the gentle culture of Japan characterises this delicate trio of natural stone bowls. At first glance, you could easily imagine them in another land or context, perhaps filled with matcha and offered to guests during a tea ceremony. But they are also the result of Piero Lissoni’s desire to reinterpret a material and present it to us in an unexpected form.
The designer’s fascination with the Orient is well-documented and can be found in many of the products he has developed with Salvatori, including our Stone Tatami and Lost Stones textures. Today we are delighted to share the latest homage to the culture and world of the Far East with the Japanese Collection.
Bianco Carrara is the choice of stone for the first bowl which, with its low, wide shape and ample stable base, evokes the hiragata. The sinuous curves of the second, in the muted pinky-pale yellowish pastels of Crema d’Orcia, bring to mind the image of an unfurling flower. Rounding out the set is a more classic form, brought to life in the sober yet striking black of Nero Marquinia.
We spoke to Piero Lissoni and and asked him to tell us a little about his new collection, from the idea behind it to his love of Japan. Here are his responses to our questions.
What was the inspiration behind the Japanese Collection?
I chose what I think are the most beautiful pieces from my personal collection of Japanese objects and reproduced them in stone.
What is your link with Japan?
It’s a continuous, constant link which began many, many years ago, and one which I’m very proud of. I feel a connection with this idea of purity, of the sophisticated way of doing things which has a depth to it. It’s never superficial.
What sensations do you want these bowls to evoke?
I’m not sure about sensations, but they should definitely arouse curiosity because I push a material’s usage to extremes, in this case natural stone, and then also push the quality of that material to extremes, taking it towards a disarming aesthetic.
Do natural stone and Japanese pottery and ceramics have anything in common?
Yes, their natural aspect! Both have nature in their make-up. Ceramics are created by transforming a material that exists in nature. Stone is natural. I take pieces of stone and transform them into everyday objects. Sometimes the stone is lost, abandoned or unused.
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Did you take inspiration from any particular master of Japanese pottery?
No, because all Japanese ceramics and pottery are made by masters. Their essence is implicitly contained in every design.
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