Poetical Design by Molto Collectibles

The brainchild of the founder of Molto Italiano Lorenzo Bassetti, Molto Collectibles has its roots in the finest Italian artisanal tradition. The brand defies mass production in favor of singular, often custom-made, projects painstakingly handcrafted by master artisans, who infuse charming antique details. Embracing Massimo Vignelli’s philosophy that “good design is visually powerful, intellectually elegant and, above all, timeless”, each piece is infused with the poetry of local crafting tradition that will never go out of style.

Born in 2020, Molto Collectibles is a unique gallery of pieces conceived to introduce a cultured and sophisticated rediscovered Italian style. The result is a combination between classic and contemporary languages where the design object finds a new formal, semantic and aesthetic meaning.

Molto Collectibles is a proper gallery featuring objects and furnishing accessories from the finest Italian crafting tradition. How did this project come about?

Established in 2020 as an addition to the existing Molto Italiano project, Molto Collectibles emerged from a passion for Italian craftsmanship excellence. With roots in the food and hospitality industry, we expanded our vision to interior design, carefully selecting furniture and furnishing accessories that embody the finest Italian handcrafting tradition. Available on our virtual gallery, each skilfully restored piece tells a story and becomes a unique work of art.

The natural evolution of Molto Collectibles led us to envision a more extensive and lasting furniture collection. To achieve this, we carefully selected master craftsmen who could interpret and faithfully replicate our vision. That’s how Edizioni Molto was born: a collection of unique pieces handcrafted of bamboo and other fine materials, combining timeless aesthetics with modern comfort. Each item is the result of a rigorous creative process and superb craftsmanship. The success of Edizioni Molto encouraged us to be in control of the creative process, which is why, in 2022, we acquired a workshop, a place where we could experiment, innovate, and bring new ideas to life. Our artisans work passionately to transform materials - from bamboo to brass - into unique and stunning pieces. For us, it represents a breakthrough towards total creative and production freedom.

Molto Collectibles’ editions feature high-end furniture and accessories that offer a cultured and sophisticated ‘rediscovered Italian style’. What is the meaning behind this expression, and how does it affect the production and design of your pieces?

The collections pay homage to Italian design from the 1960s, 70s and 80s. Drawing inspiration from masters such as Gabriella Crespi, Vivai del Sud, and Fabrizio Smania, we have reimagined the use of materials to create furniture that merges traditional craftsmanship with modern aesthetics. In our collections, bamboo is crafted into furniture characterized by essential and modular design, perfect for creating distinctive and personalized interiors. Clean lines, rigorous geometries, and modular components: this is how we have reinterpreted Italian design from the 60s, 70s, and 80s - a nod to tradition explored through a contemporary lens to create timeless living environments.

Your production aims to combine the classic and contemporary, resulting in unique objects with an original style that are mostly made of bamboo. What is the reason behind the choice of this unusual yet interesting material?

Bamboo is an exceptional ancient plant utilized for five thousand years in the East; it was later exported globally as a building material, quickly becoming the preferred raw material for the most sophisticated international design. Simplicity and suppleness, lightness and strength, versatility and naturalness: these are the qualities that historically have enabled bamboo to grace aristocratic palaces, their gardens and greenhouses and, through cultural symbiosis, the residences of the upper middle class, intellectual circles and hotels. Opting for bamboo signifies embracing a natural and sustainable aesthetic. Its understated elegance is reflected in its clean lines and essential forms, imparting our furniture with an aura of timeless beauty. Each piece serves as a bridge between past and present, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern design innovation.