The collection called Utopia includes three containers with lids, two trays, a fruit vase and a serving board, made by hand from cedar wood. All of them are miniature buildings with elegantly carved arcades around the perimeter. Each item has ebony inserts that create a contrasting pattern of dots and lines, as if drawn with thick ink. "Wood as a material is amazing, it exists in silence and brings warmth," says the author of the collection and founder of Mad Lab, Antonio Serrano.
Collection of tableware Utopia designed by Antonio Serrano, Mad Lab. © Angel Segura
"This collection is made of cedar, Canadian maple and ebony wood, creating a delightful contrast of tones." - Antonio Serrano
Inside, the wooden containers are finished with Canadian maple. © Angel Segura
The collection is inspired by Renaissance ideas of utopia, in particular, famous paintings of the end of the XNUMXth century, each of which is called "The Ideal City", and the geometry of the Italian Renaissance artist Piero della Francesca. Citta Ideale are three paintings from the era of the Italian Early Renaissance with a common plot - a fictional deserted urban landscape. Scientists still argue about their authorship, content and even purpose. The canvas stored in Urbino, in the Marche National Gallery, is attributed to the same della Francesca, Luciano Laurane, Francesco di Giorgio Martina or Melozzo da Fiora. The painting from the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore is attributed to the artist and architect Fra Carnevale. Francesco di Giorgio Martiny is considered the author of the work from the Berlin Art Gallery.
"Ideal City" from Urbino, end of the XNUMXth century, board, tempera, the author is unknown, but the work is attributed to Piero della Francesca, Melozzo da Fiora and others
"The Ideal City", stored in the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, written between 1480-1484, board, tempera, oil, the author is considered to be the architect and artist Fra Carnevale
"Ideal city" from Berlin, approx. 1477, the author is considered to be Francesco di Giorgio Martina
"I am a big lover of architecture, and the geometry of this collection has a classic aesthetic, but with a touch of modernity." - Antonio Serrano
The Antonio Serrano collection is an allusion to the architecture of the Italian Early Renaissance © Angel Segura
All seven table accessories designed by Serrano resemble buildings that could "inhabit" the Ideal City. Wooden containers have the shape of a polyhedron and are topped with a golden spire. The base is decorated with a finely carved arcade, and inside they are trimmed with Canadian maple. By the way, in one of these vessels it is easy to guess the allusion to the famous Florentine Baptistery. A vase for fruit resembles a mysterious item for a Japanese tea ceremony.
© Angel Segura
Baptistery consecrated in honor of John the Baptist, Florence, XI-XII centuries.
© Angel Segura
© Angel Segura
Wooden tray with miniature arcade, Utopia series by Mad Lab © Angel Segura
Serving platter from the Utopia series, Mad Lab © Angel Segura
