Vicky Sanderson The Italian ceramic house Mutina is a magnet for the most talented designers of tile in the world. They include Hella Jongerius, Patricia Urquiola, Vincent Van Dusyen, and Tokukin Yoshioka.
Collections by these and other important names in the world of design and art are part of Mutina’s process of collaboration with ceramic artists who push the material’s boundaries, while showing a deep love for the form.
Below, the Mutina Mews collection designed by London-based team Barber Osgerby is inspired by 18th century English carriage houses. The colours of these textured tiles are simply gorgeous.
Mutina has facilities in Modena and Milano, where it also sponsors beautifully designed guest and show houses that feature the brand’s exceptional tiles. I discovered them while going through a lookbook from Opustone, which carries several collections from Mutina. What a wonderful surprise.
It’s impossible to pick a favourite among the offering, but a remarkable Rombini collection from French designers tile Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec (one of several for the brand) stood out for me. I’m drawn to the compelling triangular shapes and lozenge patterns in solid or contrasting colors.
A saturated palette for these textured tiles includes red, blue, pink, brown, white in gloss or natural finish, grey, and the vibrant green pictured at the bottom of the gallery below.
Double-firing techniques produce a hand-crafted look and feel.
