Buccellati adorns tables with silver objects inspired by nature, creating precious, cultured settings where artisanal skills reach new heights
by Marta Bernasconi - ph. courtesy by Buccellati
he silver tableware by Buccellati overturns what had seemed to be the unassailable conventions ruling the mise en place, with decorative objects placed in the centre of the setting, surrounded by tableware articles playing a spectacular supporting role.
The company was founded in Milan over a century ago by Mario Buccellati, and since that time the high jewellery and silverware brand has made objects that give form to a very special concept of beauty, taking advantage of the artisanal heritage of jewellery-making traditions to create original, imaginative pieces. This has given rise to the Buccellati style – in the silver tableware sector this stands out for its unusual silver working techniques and creations inspired by the natural world that have become icons. One of these is the artichoke - in the 1960s it was crafted with a cigar lighter hidden among its leaves, and now the Armatae Flores collection celebrates this vegetable’s intrinsic beauty in the individual version and the sumptuous centrepiece.
The brand’s creations are designed to create imposing mises en place, perfect for celebrations and special events that become enduring memories
Silver plays the dominant role of the table settings created by the historic house founded by Mario Buccellati. The brand opened its first shop in Milan in 1919. The silver objects are surrounded by other precious materials like porcelain and Murano glass, which go together to create mises en places infused with a warm, refined conviviality
for guests. Maria Cristina Buccellati offers some valuable advice for creating a truly unforgettable table setting. “The presence of a charming centrepiece with artistic floral compositions immediately increases the setting’s visual appeal, while the quality of the table linen helps create a warm, elegant atmosphere. The lighting also plays a crucial role – whenever possible you should enhance natural light with candles, generating a suffuse lighting effect that creates intimacy and warmth”. To achieve the correct balance between the various elements and materials Maria Cristina Buccellati uses porcelain as the ideal basis for the combination with the silver cutlery,
candlesticks and various decorative objects, as, she explains, “Silver immediately provides an air of timeless elegance”. To add a lighthearted touch to the table top she introduces colourful accents in Murano glass with wood elements. This creates a warm, welcoming material excellence.
Reason and emotion come together to create the Maison Buccellati table setting – and one of its distinctive touches is the signpost. “If it’s accompanied by hand-written card, it becomes an even more important sign of welcome for guests, generating an immediate emotional connection”. buccellati.com
The Buccellati tabletop also features porcelain elements from the Double Rouche collection (top, opposite page). Created in collaboration with Ginori 1735, it shows a decorative motif inspired by the “rouche” pattern introduced by Buccellati in the 1950s