Paola Paronetto’s family of paper clay products rarely fails to amaze. The new Cartocci Print collection, on display recently at Maison & Objet in Paris, is made with her paper clay in her usual production process, but presents new aesthetic details from the Pordenone designer. We interviewed her via email earlier this week:

The intent of your designs?

My creations are decorative elements for the home and interiors, characterized by elegance and essentiality.

How are they used?

They lend themselves to a variety of interpretations. From decorative elements in support of furniture, shelves, niches and alcoves to unusual containers of other decorative items. The material, which shows itself in its nakedness, can be compared to wood, stone, resin, and ceramics.

What are the materials?

The principal material is clay, with the a variable percentage of other materials like pulp, paper, cardboard, glazes, vitrified engobes, gold, and platinum in the third fire.

The inspiration behind their design?

I wanted unusual and amazing surfaces for my ceramic pots, something that could change radically their perception. At a certain point  I have imagined them made of cardboard and I felt it was the right idea!

The challenges to design and manufacture them?

The major challenge was represented to the intent of using cardboard; I wanted to use the clay but I also wanted that the final product does not look like ceramic. I think I have had success because the most frequently question at the fair always is: which kind of material is it? To realize my idea I had to adjust the mixture to irregular surfaces and study a “recipe” ad hoc: the paper clay is perfect for this purpose!

And the price range?

Medium to high.

For more information, go here.

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