Bologna, Italy's annual trade show, held in September, showcased a welcome return to color, pattern, and texture, along with technology-driven larger formats.
November 2018 Product Briefs: Ceramics of Italy
Dark Edition
These digitally printed ceramic “wallpapers” from ABK’s Wide&Style collection evoke the comforts and charms of an Italian nonna’s home, but in the form of durable ¼"-thick porcelain slabs as large as 5¼' x 10½'. The series of lush nature motifs includes Sicily (above), Wild Berry, Tropicana, Rain Forest, and Papillion.
Pittorica
Designed by the Milan-based Studiopepe for Ceramica Bardelli, these rectified indoor tiles are made of glazed stonewear with a silky finish. Available in a range of solid colors and three shapes—10" square, 2½" x 10" rectangle, 10" x 10" x 14" triangle—Pittorica can be arranged to create myriad patterns on floors and walls.
Shades
A contemporary variation on traditional majolica, this line by Milan-based designer Gordon Guillaumier for Ceramiche Piemme captures deft watercolor effects and textures with digital printing on high-performance porcelain tiles and slabs. The urbane color palette ranges from shades of white, beige, and gray to rich earth tones, blues, and black.
Creos
Ceramiche Refin captures the sensuous sheen and slightly irregular hand of a resin finish in this versatile group of ¼"- to ⅓"-thick large-format tiles and porcelain slabs. Sizes range from 2' x 2' up to 4' x 9'. Colors, for walls only, include coral, teal, and lime green. Neutrals for floor and wall round out the line.
3D Wall Design
This range of white-body ceramic wall reliefs by Atlas Concorde includes the new 3D Twist, in Sage. Inspired by braided ropes on moored boats, this three-dimensional wall surface comes in three rectified formats and four colors, including white, in matte and gloss finishes.
Gradient
D-Segno Studio’s Davide Tonelli developed the ombre effect of these porcelain-body wall slabs, for Ornamenta, based on current Pantone hues. Measuring 4' x 8' at about ⅓" thick, the line comes in five chromatic blends, including Sand, all in a natural finish.
Titan
Over is a new brand specializing in large-format porcelain stonewear slabs at Fincibec, and Titan is among the first of its offerings. Mimicking the appearance of concrete and popular metals like Corten, Titan is available in 4' x 8½' and 5¼' x 10½' formats, at approximately ¼" and ½" thicknesses, respectively. Appropriate for indoor and outdoor applications in residential and commercial projects, this versatile material can even be used as cladding.
Kuro
The Emilgroup’s Viva brand has taken its design cues from Japan’s Yakisugi charred-wood preservation techniques to develop Yaki, its new interior collection. There are two plank sizes—8" x 48" and 4" x 12"—and four finishes. Kuro resembles the deep black of burnt cedar, while Shiro has the look of scorched wood with a coat of white paint. Beju appears burnt and brushed; Guré simulates burnt, brushed wood painted gray.
Dot
Fioranese Ceramica collaborated with architect Andrea Maffei to develop this unique interpretation of a popular reinforced-concrete surface in three shades of through-body gray porcelain. Available in 24"-square and triangular shapes as well as 12" x 48" and 24" x 48" formats, Dot is only appropriate for wall applications. To compensate, the company offers plain coordinating field tiles for floor use.
Slimtech Delight
While stone lookalikes in porcelain are not new, advanced printing technologies are enabling manufacturers to offer larger slabs with more realistic detail and options such as bookmatching and continuous chained veins. Delight, from Lea Ceramiche’s Slimtech range, features realistic Marquina Nero, Calacatta Oro, and Venato Bianco designs. These are approximately ¼" thick and come in three sizes: 48" square, 48" x 102", and 2" x 48". A traditional glossy, and two matte finishes, are available.
Artwork
Designed to emulate an array of terrazzo techniques—surfaces found in Venetian palazzos, Art Deco hotels, or Memphis-style apartments—Artwork, from Florim's Casa Dolce Casa-Casamood brand, is a collection of through-body porcelain tiles and slabs, 12 with glasslike inserts, in a choice of five formats, two thicknesses, seven colors, and three particulate sizes—micro, basic, and macro. Glossy and matte finishes are available.
