francesco faccin's bronze furniture for nilufar gallery is cast from planks of wood

francesco faccin’s bronze furniture for nilufar gallery is cast from planks of wood

for milan-based nilufar gallery, italian designer francesco faccin has realized a collection of bronze furniture that takes on the aesthetic qualities and characteristics of wood. ‘serial planks’, presented during design miami/ basel 2016, exhibits the results of specialized processes and production techniques that see wood slabs used as molds for making metal elements. created in collaboration with fonderia artistica battaglia, a milanese manufacturer of lost-wax cast bronze sculptures, the series comprises a sequence of bronze planks that can be combined to create an infinite number of shapes and configurations.

serial planks
video courtesy of francesco faccin

at fonderia artistica battaglia, a single 150 x 7 centimeter wide larch plank was used to make a mold. molten metal is poured into these impressions, replicating the texture and tactile qualities of wood in bronze. with these realized metal planks, which can be duplicated and repeated through the process, the italian designer creates functional furniture configurations ranging from a large table to a chair, a console and a fruit tray. while the technique can be repeated without limit to form ever-more planks, each result bears a slightly different appearance due to its manual process — imperfection becomes an added value.

the planks can be duplicated and repeated endlessly through the molding process
photo by virginia taroni

at design miami/ basel, nilufar exclusively presents part of the ‘serial planks’ collection as an expression of the relationship between material and method. the project was first exhibited during milan design week 2016 for the show entitled ‘bronzification’.

‘fonderia artistica battaglia asked me to develop a project aimed at opening up new possibilities in the application of bronze and the lost wax process,’ faccin says. ‘the goal was to be able to approach the artistic and sculptural world in a new way. as artistic director, I focused on the creation of a different ‘modus operandi’ between the designer and the foundry. I attempted to cast aside the interdependence between designer/producer/art dealer in order to work in a balanced and egalitarian system where everyone involved has the same importance and influence.’

two table tops are combined to create an oversized surface
photo by virginia taroni