MILAN — The mythological Roman sea god Neptune has become a main character for Luke Edward Hall’s upbeat aesthetic.
Known for balancing painting, drawing, writing, interior design, knitwear design and home decor, the U.K.-based designer first spiced up Ginori 1735′s porcelain lineup in 2019 with “Il Viaggio di Nettuno” — which is Italian for “Voyage of Neptune.” On Wednesday the company announced the unveiling of the deity’s second underwater chapter, this time revealed in Roman splendor.
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Ginori 1735 hosted the unveiling at boutique hotel La Posta Vecchia in Ladispoli, a seaside city historically known as a hot spot for Roman emperors. La Posta Vecchia also has a storied past. It was the 17th-century Renaissance villa for the noble Orsini family and later a hideaway for Jean Paul Getty. In the ’80s, it became the family home of Roberto Sciò and later revived into a hospitality destination by his daughter Marie-Louise Sciò, Pellicano Hotels Group chief executive officer and creative director. The Pellicano Hotels Group also includes Italy’s sought-after luxury destinations Il Pellicano, in Tuscany’s Porto Ercole, and Mezzatorre, on the Ischia island.
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Edward Hall said the second chapter, which also includes porcelain plates, tea cups, mugs and containers, introduced more earthy tones like terracotta and verde pino (Italian for pine green), and new characters like octopuses and sea horses.
“With Neptune’s Journey, the idea was always about creating a collection inspired by the sea. I wanted to bring in the sort of Greco-Roman mythology that I love,” he told WWD. Edward Hall is also known for his work with Venetian fabrics-maker Rubelli with which he designed a collection of textiles titled “Return to Arcadia” and a collection of wallpapers named “Parade,” which was also inspired by ancient Greece and Rome and that were originally hand-sketched with the artist’s elegant yet cartoonish flair.
The fabled brand that reportedly counted Napoleon I’s wife Marie Louise of Austria among its fans, has been welcoming fresh talent like Edward Hall and new brand ambassadors like actor Jake Gyllenhaal.
In a C-suite level change, Ginori 1735 appointed Mehdi Benabadji as its new chief executive officer in May. He previously held the same role at Brioni since January 2020. Its previous chairman and chief executive officer Alain Prost stepped down in January.