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The convergence of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design echoes in Toronto-based custom art studio Moss & Lam’s latest Colonna collection, conceived for luxury interior furnishing brand Holly Hunt. In a fusion of heritage and modernity, the cohesive series of four side tables and end tables capture the sculptural, structural and aesthetic essence of classic colonnades. The tables are made from the frost-proof clay of the Impruneta region in Italy, with an abundance of iron and calcium in its composition, making it ideal for indoor and outdoor use.
“In my opinion, any designed item that is introduced to the market should serve a specific function and convey a distinct perspective. It is my desire for the product to reflect the intention behind its design, encouraging users to contemplate and interact with it to forge a personal connection with the piece,” Deborah Moss, co-founder of Moss & Lam tells STIR. Aligning with this philosophy, the terracotta tables invite the users to become a part of their environment.
After graduating from the Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto, Moss founded the custom art studio with her partner Edward Lam in 1987. Their diverse portfolio spans major commissions for luxury brands in the commercial and hospitality sectors and notable public art interventions across Canada. The practice explores experimental custom artworks, wall treatments and art installations that merge with their respective built environments. The studio’s ethos is to elevate spaces with their artistic and imaginative art and objects from a wide range of materials including paint, plaster, ceramic, wood, leather and textiles, and to bring whimsical ideas to reality with their passion for material and form exploration.
In Colonna, several clay slabs are stacked atop each other, up to a height of 20 inches, carefully carved into interpretations of traditional columnar forms. The inherent qualities of the clay, coupled with two generous coats of stain-resistant sealant increase the durability and visual appeal of the table designs, while also being easy to maintain.
The product designer states the influences behind Colonna: “Drawing inspiration from Italian craftsmanship and the historical significance of columns, I sought to innovate by deconstructing and reinventing the traditional fluted column concept, thereby elevating the perception of terracotta to [an] innovative level.” The furniture designs are handcrafted, made in collaboration with artisans from Tuscany, and celebrate the raw material by highlighting its earthiness.
Since its establishment, Moss & Lam has always exclusively crafted its product designs in-house, with a dedicated team of artisans. To realise this collection, the studio opted to work with expert craftsmen for the first time, which posed several challenges. “It was reassuring to have unwavering confidence in our Italian collaborators, considering their long standing legacy in the Cotto industry spanning over two centuries,” Moss notes. “The primary obstacle encountered was the substantial time required for manual production. Nonetheless, such delays were not unfamiliar to us in our production processes,” she adds, recalling the time-intensive process of manual production based on their 3D models.
The Colonna collection, with its expressive materiality and evocative compositions, paves the way for Moss & Lam’s future projects, reaffirming the studio’s commitment to experimentation and craftsmanship. As Moss & Lam continues to explore new avenues, Moss talks about their latest work and reveals their plans, “Our team has been discussing potential next steps for a follow-up collection of Cotto furniture and potentially, a line of tiles. Additionally, we have recently created a conference table for Nienkämper, which was introduced at NeoCon this year.” With a forward-looking approach, the studio strives to create innovative designs, to continuously push the boundaries of material and form.
(Text by Bansari Paghdar, intern at STIR)
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