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A Personal Ceramics Collection From Nicolò Morales for Paola Lenti

08.13.24 | By
A Personal Ceramics Collection From Nicolò Morales for Paola Lenti

The new collection from Nicolò Morales for Italian brand Paola Lenti starts with the natural resources in the landscape of Caltagirone, Italy, where the master ceramicist lives and works. In ancient times, potters had no means to procure clay on a large scale, and turned to the mountains and rivers that surrounded them. Morales gathers soils and mineral samples from the very same environment, which he then translates into different compositions and textures in clay. Comprising four pieces, the Stelo structure, the Primula table, the Helico table, and the Anemone side table, this collection celebrates the alchemy achieved using expert craftsmanship with found materials.

A modern interior features Stelo by Nicolò Morales for Paola Lenti, suspended columns of green and purple cylindrical elements. This is complemented by two purple woven chairs with pink frames on a minimalist beige floor.

The Stelo, a standing ceramic structure, is made up of independent majolica elements stacked on top of each other to form organic, jaunty columns. These elements are hand painted, and are installed with rubber spacers in between to protect the pieces from damage. This also allows for a smoother fitting process. These elements can be arranged in any manner, up to client preference.

A divided image showing Stelo by Nicolò Morales for Paola Lenti, a multi-colored sculpture made of cylindrical objects on thin green poles. On the right, a close-up view highlighting the texture and details. The background includes furniture and greenery.

A full shot of Primula by Nicolò Morales for Paola Lenti, a round glass coffee table with four decorative pink ceramic legs arranged in a floral pattern.

The Primula is composed of extruded majolica elements, which create the legs, and a slightly opaque glass top. Reminiscent of limpets and other primeval sea creatures, these components offer different views from the top and the side, adding interest at every angle.

Morales is a professional diver, deeply inspired by the aquatic world he is so close with. Much of his work is inspired by the sea or aquatic forms, allowing the artist to play with the intricacies of clay composition and color with each nuanced take. The top of the table is finished with the slightest of opacities and is rounded smooth on all edges, reminding us of sea glass found tumbling naturally onto rocky shores.

A close-up view of Primula by Nicolò Morales for Paola Lenti, a geometric sculpture with a circular design, made up of interconnected raised cylindrical structures, viewed through a glass surface.

A round glass coffee table, Helico by Nicolò Morales for Paola Lenti, with multiple teal, intricately carved pillar legs of varying heights forming the base.

Helico is our next piece in the collection, the thick glass tabletop hand-finished to create beautiful texture on the underside of the table. This slightly opaque top reveals the forms of the extruded legs, ceramic pieces reminiscent of prehistoric trilobites and shells that dot the ocean floor. The irregularity of the organic shapes within the confines of the clay composition makes for a beautiful originality in the finished pieces. The legs are glued to the top for security, and the feet are capped with rubber to prevent damage.

Close-up of Helico by Nicolò Morales for Paola Lenti, a modern outdoor table with a reflective surface and translucent cylindrical legs, set in a garden with green and blue furniture in the background.

Close-up of Helico by Nicolò Morales for Paola Lenti, featuring a glass table with a sun design on the surface. This is supported by textured, geometric legs, casting shadows on a woven, light-colored floor covering.

Close-up image of Helico by Nicolò Morales for Paola Lenti, featuring two textured and gear-like objects on a reflective blue surface. The objects have a weathered, rusty appearance.

Five colorful ceramic stools with ridged, cylindrical shapes are placed against a plain white background. Named Anemone by Nicolò Morales for Paola Lenti, the stools are variously colored with green, orange, purple, and red tones.

Anemone is a side table like no other, hand sculpted using custom blends of clay from the hillsides of Caltagirone. Layer upon layer of glaze creates ribbons of color running horizontally along organic shapes, filleted softly on the sides. Each color combination is unique, relying on the consistency of the glaze to pull the color organically down the surface of the table.

Indeed, all of the glaze combinations are numbered with a color code describing the tone that’s inside. Morales is colorblind, working with collaborators to tune the finishes and combinations of clay and chemicals to client’s exact specifications. This requires much trial and error, and the artist keeps the experiments in composition to further inform future iterations.

Close-up of Anemone by Nicolò Morales for Paola Lenti, a cylindrically shaped object with a glossy, swirled green and yellow pattern on its surface.

Close-up of Anemone by Nicolò Morales for Paola Lenti, a cylindrically shaped object with a glossy, swirled green and yellow pattern on its surface.

Close-up of Anemone by Nicolò Morales for Paola Lenti, a cylindrically shaped object with a glossy, swirled green and yellow pattern on its surface.

To follow Morales’ work on Instagram, click here. For more from Paola Lenti, click here.

Growing up in NYC has given Aria a unique perspective into art + design, constantly striving for new projects to get immersed in. An avid baker, crocheter, and pasta maker, handwork and personal touch is central to what she loves about the built environment. Outside of the city, she enjoys hiking, biking, and learning about space.