Finally the sun arrives, replacing a week of drizzle that periodically morphed into torrential downpours, & everyone happily moving through the city – so lunch in the vine draped courtyard at Rossana Orlandi became the perfect option!!

Two years ago we first posted on the ceramic art-meets-design collections by EMANUELA CROTTI - then story-telling through inlay buttons, coins, roses, plastic animals, butterflies, Barbie Dolls & more – constructing table tops, dressers + dishes with animals, aeroplanes, hearts, guns & more….

This year her work was on-trend in Flouro (highlight markers & Ray Bans quite hilarious yet beautiful), animals, nail polish & of course this season’s ‘must have’ emblem – skulls!!

Revisiting Rubelli, across the hall, in the entry level of the former tie factory – the ribboned-taxidermy birds are morbidly sophisticated, many had been sold since our first visit on Monday.

Birds, like Flouro colours & Skulls – are everywhere.

Rosanna again came for a quick chat – her tongue firmly in cheek, there is nothing that escapes her attention, as she draws on yet another cigarette & fondles her porcelain chain necklace. The current favourite she confessed.

Note to self – a trip to RO is inevitably expensive – this year two lights, a ceramic beetle & one of Croti’s plates are now added to the excess baggage allowance. There really should be a therapy for those addicted to collecting the art-design pieces……

With the sunshine too delicious to ignore, meandering through La Brera district lead us to a wonderous discovery Рthe magic of a Paola Navone installation, aptly entitled THE SECRET GARDEN - a private garden rarely seen by the public, with her lighting & chandeliers secreted in over-scale, woven cane pods, each painted in her signature cobalt blue. The installation was the second presentation of the memorable showing for Italian Murano glass brand Borovier & Toso - & whilst the pieces were seen two years ago at SuperStudio  in Tortona, the collection i so amazing it is worth seeing in the new setting.
After the gardens it was a quick trip back to the centre to Baccarat, where the French crystal house exhibited traditional designs that are now several hundred years old, alongside whimsical & humours contemporary collections by Jaime Hayan, Patricia Urquiola & Philippe Starck. The journey also enabling the mandatory reviewing of this seasons shoes Р(along with the occasional bag) Рmixing business with pleasure in the most enjoyable way!!
Returning to the new TOM DIXON driven destination РMOST - a very welcome addition to what has become a flailing Tortona region in past two or so years Рthe expanse of the Science Museum becomes apparent Рwith balconies, courtyards & cavernous reception rooms swathed in frescoes housing installations of those invited to exhibit in the collective.
Highlights – aside from Dixon’s collection & the Studio TOOGOOD experience we blogged on Monday, were American brand¬†BLU DOT (& launching in Australin next month), the New Zealand collective Resident, ¬†the great orange furniture by Luca Nichetto, cute cardboard lights, & the DROR-designed luggage (bullet proof vest material!!) for TUMI.
Irrespective of how often one visits MOST – the creation of Dixon’s chair holds ongoing fascination. The process involves an advanced type of 3D printing – the image of the chair pattern beamed to the pressing machine, the aluminium then pressed / stamped, laid flat, & finally, folded. Witnessing the industrial process first hand is made all the more spectacular as it is located in a depot filled with steam trains & carriages!

IMAGES // Anne-Maree Sargeant