Elegant objects make a chic addition to a gift list

Poltrona Frau’s collection of sculptural objects and Jie Wu’s pieces in rosewood and resin will stand the test of time – perfect for a gift list

White marble and crystal jugs and bowls
‘Pura’ marble plate, from £540, by Angelo Mangiarotti; ‘Marianne’ vases, from £960, by Michele De Lucchi; ‘Askos’ crystal pitcher, £540, by Angelo Mangiarotti, all for Poltrona Frau. Interiors: Olly Mason
(Image credit: Josh David Payne)

As far as timeless gifting is concerned, Poltrona Frau’s collection of objects by legends of Italian design hits the spot. The sculptural forms of Angelo Mangiarotti’s ‘Askos’ crystal pitcher and ‘Pura’ marble plate combine minimalism with a pure elegance, stretching materials to their extremes.

Michele De Lucchi’s ‘Marianne’ vases, meanwhile, elegantly explore the potential of blown glass. Created using an open mould made of steel strips that give each piece a unique, distinctive ridged form, the vases combine white and transparent layers moulded together in a crucible.

Marble coloured bowl against a dark background

‘A Listener’, price on request, by Jie Wu, from Gallery Fumi

(Image credit: Josh David Payne)

Rosewood and resin make elegant additions to a gift list

The work of Chinese-born, London-based artist Jie Wu elegantly marries East and West, the natural and the manmade. Having studied textile design at Chelsea College of Arts and the RCA, Wu turned her attention to recycled rosewood and translucent resin, which she calls ‘an inclusive material that can bring a new life to wood’. Combining the two, Wu created a collection of furniture and vessels on the theme of silence earlier this year, which includes this evocatively hued centrepiece, inspired by Chinese bronzeware from the Warring States period. It would make a showstopper of an addition to your wedding table, or, considering its title ‘A Listener’, an apt gift to symbolise your dedication to your spouse-to-be.

For further wedding inspiration, let us introduce Weddingpaper*, Wallpaper’s first dip into nuptial nirvana, as seen in the October 2021, 25th Anniversary Issue and coming to Wallpaper.com throughout this week. Forget the conventional and the staid; here, tradition comes with a twist and frou frou frills with a velvet blue mule.

Whether it’s pairing the cool metal hues of a rose gold wristwatch with the billowing folds of an In-Grid Bride gown, or juxtaposing a luminescent Mikimoto pearl brooch against the mischievous polka dots of a Dunhill shirt, brides and grooms are sure to find something style wise to love. Wedding guests, too, take note: our chic and sculptural guide to timeless gifting puts the days of mismatched china long behind us, making for a very modern take on wedded bliss.

INFORMATION

poltronafrau.com

galleryfumi.com

A version of this article appears in the October 2021, 25th Anniversary Issue of Wallpaper*, on newsstands and available to subscribers – 12 digital issues for $12/£12/€12.

Rosa Bertoli was born in Udine, Italy, and now lives in London. Since 2014, she has been the Design Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees design content for the print and online editions, as well as special editorial projects. Through her role at Wallpaper*, she has written extensively about all areas of design. Rosa has been speaker and moderator for various design talks and conferences including London Craft Week, Maison & Objet, The Italian Cultural Institute (London), Clippings, Zaha Hadid Design, Kartell and Frieze Art Fair. Rosa has been on judging panels for the Chart Architecture Award, the Dutch Design Awards and the DesignGuild Marks. She has written for numerous English and Italian language publications, and worked as a content and communication consultant for fashion and design brands.