The Archetypes project stems from the idea of enhancing the archaeological heritage of the Campania region through the creation of a series of narrative porcelain objects inspired by the 5th century BC artifacts from the Museum of the Archaeological Park of Paestum.
The collection, spanning the sectors of home decor and food design, includes the Kore carafe, the Opsis bottle, and the Leirion candle holder, all inspired by the museum's most culturally significant artifacts. Archetipi longlisted for the Dezeen Awards 2021 and was selected for the ADI Design Index 2021, which qualifies for participation in the XXVII Compasso d’Oro ADI.
Photos by Antonio Bergamino
The Kore carafe evokes the cult of the goddess Hera, to whom the so-called "Basilica" of Paestum was dedicated. The distinctive shape of the object originates from the reinterpretation of the side profile of typical female figurines used as votive offerings for the goddess. This profile reemerges through three cuts that reference the imagery of the typical chipping found in ceramic archaeological artifacts, reconstructing the figure.
The Opsis bottle is inspired by an incomplete archaeological artifact. Only the upper part has reached us, featuring a face with pronounced features surrounded by a cylindrical headdress. This has been faithfully reproduced, using its distinctive shape to create the neck of a bottle, which is completed by a truncated cone—a pure geometric form that facilitates the pouring of the liquid.
The Leirion candle holder is derived from the stylization of the symbol of the city of Poseidonia: the flower-woman. This artifact is characterized by a female face topped with a wild lily, a flower still characteristic of the region today. According to mythology, the lily was born from a drop of milk from the goddess Hera, to whom the city of Poseidonia was consecrated. These artifacts were used as votive offerings in the city's sanctuaries, serving as incense holders in sacred rituals. In the case of the Leirion candle holder, the shape of the face is only suggested by three repeated cuts that highlight the neck, the hairline, and the petals of the flower that define the figure.