Catawiki reveals exhibition and auction series at debut Milan Design Week appearance in collaboration with Masterly, the renowned Dutch pavilion in Milano
Dutch and international designers creating contemporary interpretations of iconic pieces to be sold exclusively on Catawiki
Designers creating newly designed pieces exclusive to Catawiki include Grace of Glaze and Stefan Scholten
Amsterdam, 22 February 2024 Today, Catawiki, the leading online marketplace founded in The Netherlands in 2008, has revealed the concept, designers and pieces behind its inaugural presentation at Milan Design Week in collaboration with Masterly, the renowned Dutch pavilion in Milano.
The presentation, the first of four online auctions, curated by Masterly’s founder Nicole Uniquole, brings together a series of both established and emerging creators who were tasked by Uniquole and Catawiki to respond to iconic designs from past heroes and legends. The creators will bring newly designed, limited edition pieces that are exclusive to Catawiki and form the backbone of the presentation where both icon and response will be featured together in the prestigious Palazzo Giureconsulti.
This is the very first time Masterly has partnered with an online marketplace, therefore unlike other presentations in the palazzo, the exhibition will be mirrored in the online auction, enabling the contemporary interpretations of iconic pieces to reach Catawiki’s millions of global users who share a deep love for forward-thinking design.
The Designers & their Response
The Catawiki marketplace, unique in its Dutch roots and global reach, opens designers up to international audiences that they themselves might not have accessed yet. Therefore, as a celebration of both Dutch and international design, creators from The Netherlands and further afield were invited to participate in “Homage”.
Stefan Scholten, The Netherlands, on Eames
Stefan Scholten has become one of the defining voices of Dutch Design, since graduating from the Design Academy Eindhoven in 1995. He is known for his reductionist design style, combined with a unique use of colour.
Following Catawiki’s commission to reimagine Charles and Ray Eames’ Lounge chair, Studio Stefan Scholten researched every part of the iconic design, seeking its essence. This reductionist approach led to merging the chair and the ottoman in one piece, creating a sculptural piece with the original ergonomic silhouette and carefully-studied proportions. Wood becomes the central part of this reinterpretation, stripping the chair of upholstery and metal parts, for a true Californian look.
Grace of Glaze, The Netherlands, on Émile Gallé
Simone Doesburg is a Dutch ceramicist and designer based in Utrecht, the Netherlands. With her porcelain tableware brand, Grace of Glaze, she redefines the ordinary, transforming everyday moments into extraordinary displays of beauty and wonder.
Keep an eye out for the custom-coloured dinnerware set, crafted in homage of the Emile Gallé vase, at the upcoming auction. Drawing inspiration from the vase's deep winter blues and warm summer heat hues, this collection promises a harmonious fusion of both seasons. The handmade dinner plates, deep plates and bowls are poised to offer a truly unique and enchanting dining experience for those who appreciate artistic finesse.
Laurene Guarneri, France, on Pierre Paulin
A graduate of the Beaux Arts de Paris-Cergy, Laurène Guarneri is an artisan designer based in Paris. She works with glass and mirror to transcribe poetic moments arising from moments of meditation. Her pieces are inspired by fleeting moments in everyday life, advocating a return to the sensitive.
The “Double Jaune” mirror is inspired by the warm colour and repeated shapes of Pierre Paulin's “Orange Slice” armchair. In a dynamic interplay of reflections and transparencies, the “Double Jaune” mirror plays with contrasts and variations in the light of a solar hue. The superimposition of the two staggered shapes adds a dimension of depth and movement to the mirror, giving the impression that the shapes merge and separate.
Atelier Ferraro (Germany) on Émile Gallé
After studying architecture in Italy and Greece, Emanuele Ferraro moved to Germany to work with a series of renowned architecture offices and opened his own design studio in 2019. Magazine AD Italia listed Atelier Ferraro among the new talents of Italian design. His work has been published in several international journals, was awarded at the Salone Satellite during Milan Design Week, and is currently on display in the exhibition “Italy: A New Collective Landscape“ at the Hong Kong Design Institute, curated by the ADI Design Museum Milan.
The approach utilised by Atelier Ferraro for the series “ephemeral décor” seeks to reinterpret the celebrated work of Master Émile Gallé. Colours, floral elements and the cameo technique undergo a transformative process of abstraction and reduction. Real flowers are used to execute delicate patterns, imprinting their essence onto the glass and each vase is a unique creation executed with utmost precision and outstanding craftsmanship.
Nicole Uniquole, Masterly founder and curator commented, “I always have my eye on the icons. Identifying those key pieces that are meant to take centre stage. Celebrating the objects that reflect the essence of a zeitgeist and at the same time embody timeless value. My expertise is applying that filter to collections and presentations for brands and businesses who are looking to elevate their profile. Curating the Catawiki presentation during Milan Design Week is a well-suited task. It is a privilege to have selected the future icons of Catawiki in my core role as design curator.”
Eléonore Floret, Senior Design Expert at Catawiki said, “Together with Masterly, Catawiki is bringing together an international lineup of established and emerging designers and creators. We are so excited not only to reveal their response to iconic design, but to also offer the marketplace for them to showcase their talents to our international audience and to be a part of the 2024 edition of Milan Design Week.”
“Homage”, the first of four in a series of exclusive Catawiki x Masterly auctions, runs from Monday 15 April, until Sunday 28 April. The pieces can be seen at the Catawiki presentation at Masterly in the Palazzo Giureconsulti (second floor, room 21) during Masterly opening hours from Tuesday 16 - Sunday 21 April.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Explore the full lineup of creators creating newly designed pieces for “Homage” here.
MASTERLY X CATAWIKI AUCTION DATES: 15-28 April | 28 June - 9 July | 4-15 October | 22 November - 3 December
CATAWIKI @ MASTERLY, MILAN DESIGN WEEK 2024
Palazzo Giureconsulti, Piazza del Duomo, Milano
Second floor, room 21
Press preview: Monday 15th April, 3 PM - 7 PM
Opening hours:
Tuesday, 11 AM - 4.30 PM
Wednesday to Saturday, 11 AM - 8 PM
Sunday, 11 AM - 3 PM
