The NUMA project
Ancient materials, contemporary perspectives.
NUMA is founded on the idea that the value of an object also lies in its materials, in the gestures that make it and in the meaning it takes on for the person who chooses it. Since 1999 Roberto Zani has led a path of research that brings contemporary designers into dialogue with craft knowledge.
The first collection, Metallia, gives pewter a contemporary language through the work of several designers and the craftsmanship of Alfredo Marinoni. The research extends to fine woods worked by Atelier Rivadossi and to Murano glass. Ettore Sottsass, Giuseppe Rivadossi and Mario Botta bring recognisable visions to the project; Mario Luzi and Remo Bodei open further relationships with poetry and philosophy.
In NUMA’s collections, the proportions of design meet the sensitivity of those who cast, shape, carve and finish. The grain of the wood, the light of the metal and the gesture of the hand give character to every piece. These are works to observe, keep and live with, able to accompany over time the domestic landscape of those who choose them.
NUMA milestones
- 1999
Metallia. A collective project in pewter.
- 2001
Just For Flowers. Six vases by Ettore Sottsass.
- 2003
Custodie. Giuseppe Rivadossi’s work in walnut.
- 2004
Tavole and Scatole Segrete, by Ettore Sottsass.
- 2006
Tredicivasi; Delle segrete, silenziose lacrime; Ospiti della Vita. Architecture, poetry and philosophy.
Tredicivasi, Delle segrete, silenziose lacrime, Ospiti della Vita
Roberto Zani Tells the NUMA Story
The reasons behind the research, the relationship with the designers and the meaning of the objects, in the words of the person who conceived the project.
Read the full storyFive collections
Metallia
Ettore Sottsass, Tamar Ben David, Liliana Bonomi, Giovanni Levanti, Marco Susani e Mario Trimarchi
The noble presence of pewter meets the strength of contemporary design. Six designers and Alfredo Marinoni’s craftsmanship transform the material into luminous surfaces and volumes for the home.
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Tavole
Ettore Sottsass
Pewter meets Murano glass in a balance of light, colour and geometry. Centrepieces and raised dishes bring Sottsass’s vision to the rituals of the table.
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Scatole Segrete
Ettore Sottsass
Agata, Agnese, Rosalia, Teresa and Zita. Fine woods, wax finishes and unmistakable geometries shape five boxes for things to treasure.
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Custodie
Giuseppe Rivadossi
Walnut, carved and worked by hand, becomes an intimate architecture. The grain and marks of the tools preserve the relationship between wood and Rivadossi’s vision.
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Tredicivasi
Mario Botta
Thirteen tabletop architectures in pewter, shaped, welded and finished by hand. A numbered edition with a maximum of 33 pieces per model. Availability is limited to existing pieces.
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