Memphis Style Ceramic Vase ILIOS by Florio Keramia 1990s

The ILIOS vase, designed by Italian artist Luciano Florio Paccagnella in the 1990s, is a striking example of postmodern ceramic design. Its sculptural silhouette and brilliant red glaze reflect the bold, playful aesthetic associated with the Memphis movement.

Paccagnella studied at Milan’s Brera Academy of Fine Arts and worked as a graphic designer. Through Matteo Thun, he met Ettore Sottsass and became involved with the creative circle surrounding Memphis, even designing the invitation for the group's inaugural exhibition in 1981.

Inspired in part by Sottsass's Yantra vases, Paccagnella developed his own collection of colourful, geometric ceramic objects during the 1990s. These were produced in Budapest by Hungarian ceramic artisans in a workshop established through an Italian–Hungarian collaboration.

With its distinctive architectural presence, ILIOS is as much a sculptural design object as a functional vase - a fascinating meeting of Italian postmodern creativity and Hungarian craftsmanship.