Fluviale Collection: Cristina Celestino’s Pictorial Interpretation of Terracotta
Cristina Celestino’s Fluviale Collection for Fornace Brioni takes a pictorial approach to terracotta. The collection features a pattern that evokes the underwater flora, with brushstrokes on the tile surfaces creating a unique texture that highlights the individuality of each piece.
The pattern of the collection reflects the movement of the underwater flora. Each tile is given a distinct identity through hand-made brushstrokes. This manual intervention combines with geometric precision to create sharp lines and intense colors. The texture on the tile surfaces offers an overlapping and layered appearance. Tone-on-tone transitions create a natural and organic mosaic reminiscent of river waterlines.
Cristina Celestino draws inspiration from the principles of Euclidean geometry in her designs. She adheres to the rules of symmetry and harmony by examining the relationships between points and lines. Through the play of materials and colors, parallelogram forms are transformed into mosaic patterns and three-dimensional joints.
Cristina Celestino’s work is characterized by an innate freedom of observation and a playful approach that is both knowledgeable and curious. Her interest in materials and geometry shows a significant capacity for scientific and aesthetic research. This allows her to navigate between history and tradition, to change the scale of objects and to create new conceptual and decorative rules. By blending an interdisciplinary perspective with analytical rigour, she creates unexpected spaces, objects and experiences where nature speaks to us unanimously.
Fornace Brioni was founded in 1920 following the purchase of the kiln known as “Fornacione”. The company is located in the floodplain of the Po River in the Gonzaga region of Italy. A family business since its inception, Fornace Brioni is currently managed by the fourth generation. Brothers Alessio and Alberto Brioni combine the company’s traditional terracotta production with a modern design perspective, adapting terracotta to contemporary living spaces. Cristina Celestino has been the company’s creative director since 2016.
Fornace Brioni uses clay from the floodplains of the Po River to produce terracotta. The production process is entirely handmade. The clay is shaped in wooden molds and fired at high temperatures. The company emphasizes waste reduction and recycling in the production process. Post-firing waste is reused or used in the production of chamotte and cocciopesto.
Fornace Brioni places sustainability at the heart of its production process. The company uses natural materials and focuses on energy efficiency in production. A natural material, terracotta is recyclable and environmentally friendly.
Fornace Brioni has received numerous awards for its designs. In 2023, Le Piastrelle Segnate, designed by Giovanni Barbieri, won the Luxe RED Awards. In 2022, the Forite collection won the Best Home Design award at the Wallpaper* Design Awards.
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