454

CARLO SCARPA ^©
(Venezia, 1906 - Sendai, 1978)
CLETO MUNARI ^©

Important "Lotus Leaf" Sterling Silver Flatware Service, Designed by Carlo Scarpa for Cleto Munari, from the Family of the Artist, 1977

Total gross weight: approx. 6260 g.

Extraordinary silver flatware service designed in 1977 by the architect Carlo Scarpa for Cleto Munari, representing one of the most celebrated collaborations between the renowned Venetian master and the Vicenza-based entrepreneur who, from the mid-1970s onwards, commissioned some of the most distinguished architects and designers of the twentieth century to create functional objects elevated to the status of true works of design.
Universally known as the "Lotus Leaf" pattern, this model is regarded as one of Scarpa's most iconic creations in the field of tableware design. The design was inspired by nature: the soft, gently concave contours of the handles evoke the essential silhouette of a lotus leaf, reinterpreted through the architect's rigorous yet poetic design language.
The exceptional sculptural quality of the flatware results from a perfect balance between functionality, ergonomics, and formal research, qualities that characterize Scarpa's entire body of work. Each piece is conceived as a small sculpture, defined by continuous flowing surfaces devoid of superfluous ornament, in which aesthetic value and functional purpose achieve complete harmony.

The model remains in production by Cleto Munari Design Associati, a testament to its enduring significance in the history of contemporary Italian design.

The service comprises 84 pieces of table flatware, arranged as twelve complete place settings, consisting of:
12 dinner knives
12 fruit knives
12 tablespoons
24 dinner forks
12 fruit forks
12 dessert spoons

In addition, the lot includes:
6 coffee spoons

Each place setting is preserved in its original Lenci cloth roll, complete with its original Cleto Munari presentation box.

The flatware is crafted in sterling silver (925/1000 fineness) and is engraved "Scarpa per Cleto Munari", bearing the official Italian sterling silver hallmarks, including the maker's registration mark 268 VI.

Provenance:
Of exceptional historical significance is the provenance of the present flatware service.
The entire lot was presented as a personal gift by Carlo Scarpa to his niece, Mariagrazia Lapadula-Oliva.
The flatware comes directly from her private residence and has never been used, remaining complete with its original Lenci cloth rolls and the original Cleto Munari presentation boxes personally selected by Scarpa.
Its direct descent within the artist's family endows the lot with exceptional historical and collector's significance, a provenance of remarkable rarity for design objects that have survived together with their complete original presentation and packaging.

Literature:
• Guido Beltramini, Carlo Scarpa, Marsilio, Venice.
• Sergio Los, Carlo Scarpa, Taschen.
• Giuseppe Mazzariol, Carlo Scarpa. Complete Works, Electa, Milan.
• Francesco Dal Co, Giuseppe Mazzariol, Carlo Scarpa. The Complete Works, Electa/Rizzoli.
• Cleto Munari (ed.), Carlo Scarpa Designer, Cleto Munari Editore.
• Carlo Scarpa and the Arts at the Venice Biennale. Works and Glass from the Gemin Collection, Marsilio.
• Cleto Munari Design Catalogues, 1977–1985 editions.

The silver flatware designed by Carlo Scarpa for Cleto Munari is widely regarded as one of the most significant achievements of Italian design in the second half of the twentieth century.
Examples of Carlo Scarpa's designs for Cleto Munari are represented in the permanent collections of major international museums, including:

• The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), New York
• MAK – Museum of Applied Arts, Vienna
• Kunstmuseum Den Haag, The Hague