Paola Paronetto

Ceramist & Designer

THE ITALIAN ARTIST TAKES US INSIDE HER COLLABORATION WITH VEUVE CLICQUOT IN CELEBRATION OF THE CHAMPAGNE MAISON’S 250 TH ANNIVERSARY

Words: Annie Lewis

When Madame Clicquot Ponsardin was landed with the task of running her husband’s champagne business upon his death in 1805, she wasted little time getting to work on the challenge she’d been bestowed. One of the earliest women in history to head up an international business, in 1810 she produced the first known vintage champagne and, eight years later, invented the first blended rosé champagne. Indeed, often referred to as the Grande Dame of Champagne, it is Madame Clicquot who is credited with turning Veuve Clicquot into the prestigious champagne house it is today.

Paying homage to the pioneering businesswoman who broke societal stigmas and glass ceilings, Veuve Clicquot felt it fitting to create a collection bearing Madame Clicquot’s name and, in 1972, launched La Grande Dame premium cuvée to coincide with the company’s bicentenary celebrations. More than half a century later, Veuve Clicquot continues to celebrate its milestones with vintage releases, the past decade having seen the champagne house launch a series of collaborations with pioneering female artists.

In 2020, for example, Veuve Clicquot enlisted the help of renowned Japanese artist, Yayoi Kusama, to decorate bottles of its La Grande Dame 2012 vintage, the artist choosing a polka dot design with which to do so. This year marks both the champagne house’s 250th anniversary and the launch of its La Grande Dame 2015 vintage. To celebrate the occasion, Veuve Clicquot has partnered with famed Italian ceramicist Paola Paronetto.

Having been based in Porcia, northwest Italy, for the past 20 years, Paronetto made a name for herself crafting intricate objects with a special type of paper clay. Born in 1965, Paronetto recalls experimenting with clay and ceramics during her childhood, this hobby slowly, year after year, transforming into a full-time profession. Today, she creates works for galleries across the world, working out of her atelier in her family home, which she refers to as her “happy place”.

“I started when I was 18 years old,” says Paronetto. “I didn’t go to art school, I just took a ceramics course and I fell in love with clay. Over time, I’ve experimented with different techniques and I felt like doing something different. I was sick of traditional ceramic techniques, which were limiting me, so I found this paper clay technique and that’s what you see today.”

Made by hand, Paronetto’s objets d’art are constructed from a mixture of clay and paper pulp which results in structures that are delicate but sturdy. Her collections include vases, lamps and bottles, and it’s the latter that has formed her signature style – and drew Veuve Clicquot’s attention.

“The bottles were my very first collection made from paper clay, so this is really close to my heart,” says Paronetto. “I don’t really see the bottles as objects. They’re figures, people and families – that’s why you see them grouped together. The dialogue between different-sized bottles grouped together represents the human race.”

For the partnership with Veuve Clicquot, Paronetto has created six gift boxes crafted from paper clay in her favourite hues from her original 86 non-Pantone colour collection. Paronetto used the brand’s iconic yellow as her starting point, before branching out into other shades inspired by her love of nature, including soft blues and greens, as well as more feminine lilacs and pinks.

“These boxes are 100 per cent eco-sustainable,” says Paronetto. “They are made from a paper-like combination of hemp, cotton and natural fibres. The colours are very connected with nature and are matte, not shiny. The fact there are six colours goes back to the idea of being part of a group and enjoying life together. To see the combination of coloured gift boxes together evokes positivity and a sense of togetherness.”

Alongside the Veuve Clicquot gift boxes –which are debuting in the UK this summer and available to buy on the champagne house’s website – Paronetto has created a composition of three giant bottles named Giganti Monumentali. This limited-edition artwork is part of Veuve Clicquot’s first travelling international exhibition, Solaire Culture, which touched down in Los Angeles and Tokyo before arriving in London’s Piccadilly Circus earlier this summer.

Arranged alongside works by Japanese contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama, American sculptural textile artist Sheila Hicks, and seven other female artists (all of which were inspired by Madame Clicquot’s achievements), Paronetto’s 1.35-metre-tall bottles were designed to celebrate the skill and resolve of women across the world. “I really enjoyed understanding Madame Clicquot, and what exactly she did, before I started work on this project. To be part of an organisation that carried on her legacy is a privilege.

“I love how much the exhibition showcased her life and the progression of her work. I feel honoured to be part of this history to celebrate a very important woman who did something so incredible. To see that in one place was really special.”

The collaboration has been a first for Paronetto, but has become an experience she will never forget. “I don’t often work in collaborations so this was very different. I’ve really enjoyed collaborating with the maison; I’ve learnt a lot about myself and I’ve pushed myself to the limits. Usually my work is very spontaneous and natural. Here, I’ve had to evaluate my work more and explain my concepts, which has been a fun challenge.” veuveclicquot.com