Specifications:
- Designer: Ico Parisi and Luisa Parisi
- Manufacturer: Zanolli & Sebellin
- Country/Period: Italy; design 1966, production 1970s
- Materials: Glazed ceramic
- Conditions: Excellent vintage condition (5/5); no defects or restorations
- Dimensions: 21 × 18.5 × 7 cm (H × W × D)
- Literature: R. Lietti, "Ico e Luisa Parisi. I vetri e le ceramiche", Silvana Editoriale 2023
- Price: €2,200
- Shipping: Contact us for a quote
Designed by Ico and Luisa Parisi for Zanolli & Sebellin in 1966 and produced in the 1970s, the “Impronta” (also known as “Mano”) is a seminal experiment in gesture-based form-making within postwar Italian ceramics. This first-edition example—distinct from the very recent reissue—embodies the project’s original spirit and remains notably scarce, as production ceased in the 1980s.
The vase presents as the negative imprint of a hand pressed into clay, generating a softly faceted cavity within a rectilinear volume. Executed in glazed ceramic with a rare, vibrant green finish, it balances sculptural presence and utility: the color reads richly under light, while the proportions (21 cm high) lend poise and graphic clarity on a shelf or console.
Historically, “Impronta” belonged to a small series conceived by Parisi in 1966 in which a single gesture yielded two complementary objects: the vase (negative imprint) and a vide-poche (positive imprint). This example, a 1970s first edition, is preserved in excellent vintage condition with no defects or restorations—an increasingly difficult combination to find, particularly in this desirable green glaze.
For collectors of Italian design, the work encapsulates Parisi’s experimental approach—bridging architecture, craft, and intuition—while illustrating a lucid production idea that still feels contemporary.
