The humble virtues of emerging design brand TATO ITALIA

“Dreamed and made in Italy” is a humble virtue say at emerging design brand TATO ITALIA

Emerging Italian brand TATO launches new collections including modular constellations of moon-like luminous globes, marble and brass table lamps with satined-hoods and the re-edition of vintage ceramics in platinum and glossy dark-blue coating.

NETTA floor Lamp – All photos: courtesy of Tato Italia.

Milan 2016 – Big parties, international competitions and flamboyant installations. A.K.A.: a tough job for emerging Italian brands that could be easily overwhelmed by the pyrotechnic show-off. But it takes an honest attitude and design culture to stand out. ArchiPanic met Filippo Cristina founder of young design company TATO who believes in the humble virtues of Italian design.

Tato Italia 2016 - Courtesy of Tato Italia.

Tato Italia @ Milan Desing Week 2016.

TATO Italia is a brand “dreamed and made in Italy with the mission of making good things properly” says Cristina to ArchiPanic. At Milan Design Week the company presented new collections of lightings and vases by Antonia Astori, Lorenza Bozzoli and Corrado Corradi Dell’Acqua.

VOX table Lamp.

Inspired by a humble candlelight, NETTA floor lamp by Antonia Astori features a luminous glass globe on a stem that comes in brass, aluminium or iron. The lighting is available in three different heights that can be combined thanks to dented pedestals puzzling together. The result reminds of a floating constellation, a forest of milky moons with a contemporary and sober design.

NETTA table Lamp.

Lorenza Bozzoli cross-pollinated Italian heritage with contemporary style and created a set of table lamps named OLLY, ANITA, JIL and VOX. A Carrara marble base with brass details holds smooth satined hoods that come with a semi-sphere shape in JIL, a bell-like top in ANITA and a more geometrically-defined cap in OLLY. VOX conical top reminds vintage loudhailers and comes in satined brass to directs light outwards to the ceiling.

JIL table Lamp.

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ANITA table Lamp.

2016 range is completed by a set of ceramic vases and containers originally designed in the 60s by late Corrado Corradi dell’Acqua. Filippo Cristina found the original sketches and moulds in the basement of the designer’s heirs. Thanks to a team of ceramists, he re-created the collection with platinum and glossy dark blue coating.

Tato 2016 – Corrado Corradi dell’Acqua.

Archipanic: How does Milan Design Week perceive Made in Italy? What foreign and Italian professionals expect from an emerging Italian design brand?

Filippo Cristina, TATO: “Italian design is still highly considered. Instead of praising the “Made in Italy” brand it is important to explain the concepts behind each piece, to show how things are made of and the quality of the materials that have been used. I believe that good crafts skills matter more that mere price policies. Indeed, the first questions are about how and where a projects was born.

NETTA floor Lamp.

A. Which is your type of client?

Filippo Cristina “It is various. The ones that dare less would go for more iconic-looking designs, others look for more eclectic solutions. Until 2015 buyers and Italian design brands were more cautious due to the crisis. This year I see that the market has started to innovate again”.