Sculptural, shapely and voluminous, the Concerto table and bench were conceived by Milanese designer Francesco Rota and crafted by master mosaic artist Simona Sporchia as part of Paola Lenti’s 2023 collection.
The artistic endeavour is comprised of five surface elements and two supportive bases, all with a consistent thickness and geometries. Each is crafted from a unique blend of limestone, clay, aggregates and colours – the resulting composite material is specifically designed for outdoor use and came about after numerous experimentations.
Three variants of the beautiful yet durable material were developed: First, an essential delicately shaded finish offered in soft colours that range from powder pink to powder blue that is hand-sanded to achieve a deep velvety texture.
Second is Lias, which is decorated with ceramic tesserae that are handmade and hand-cut by Sporchia using the Japanese Nerikomi technique (where pieces of clay are stacked and cut to form a variety of patterns) that are systemically inlaid to the base by complementary or contrasting colour combinations.
And finally, Clastos, a hand-crafted finish defined by organically inspired irregular geometrical shapes.
The handmade quality of each volume – and subsequently, each table and bench – mean no two are alike nor non-replicable. Gloss-varnished stainless-steel fasteners and adjustable plastic spacers discreetly hold the different volumes together.