Porta Romana
In 1988 Andrew and Sarah Hills founded Porta Romana, a UK based atelier devoted to creating objects of beauty. Over the following 20 years their ethic has never changed, and has led to the creation of a body of work drawing on the finest skills of glass-blowing, metalworking, sculpting and furniture making. South Pacific Fabrics is proud to be representing this collection to the design trade.
Andrew and Sarah Hills tackle the question of Style by creating new & challenging designs.
Their roots are embedded in a passion for the past, a love of materials and an instinct for shape and form. Their design ethos constantly evolves while remaining beyond fashion.
Porta Romana collaborate with some of the world’s leading artisans to develop their ideas.
An obsession with detail, proportion, and material ensure that the creative process is never short, but always dynamic and rewarding. The finished pieces will have drawn on the talents of many individuals to create a unique, hand crafted work of profound beauty.
Inspired by Cecil Beaton’s iconic images from Vogue in the 1960’s and films such as ‘My Fair Lady’ and ‘Gigi’, Porta Romana’s 2009 Collection is unapologetically glamorous and chic.
Pieces include elegant, whimsical metalwork, fabulous feathers, luxurious lacquered wood & stunning, eye-catching glass.
LIMITED EDITION DUCK FEET & FEATHER SHADE
This ultra glamorous piece is the very first in the new LIMITED EDITION range.
The base is treated in the traditional gilding manner of using
24-carat gold leaf laid over red gesso, and the shade is made of the
finest hand-sewn, white goose feathers.
Each one is individually numbered and only 50 will be produced.
SOME OF THE BEAUTIFUL PIECES DESIGNED FOR PORTA ROMANA BY GARETH DEVONALD SMITH:
‘RHOMBOID’ STAIRWELL LIGHT: This grand-scale piece is a hand-forged contortion of geometric shapes that accommodate 6 lampshades and is available in Scratched Gold/ Fired Copper finish.
‘RHOMBOID’ TABLE LAMP: A stunning, large-scale, hand-forged lamp, finished in Scratched Gold / Fired Copper.
‘LOLLIPOP’ WALL LIGHT: A whimsical companion to the ‘Lollipop’ chandelier in Scratched Gold/ Fired
Copper finish.
‘RHOMBOID’ CONSOLE TABLE: Made of forged metal and finished in bronze, verdigris and gold with a black
lacquer top.
‘MAHJONG’ MIRROR: A circular mirror with dramatic shafts of forged metal extending in random directions from the frame, which is finished in Dark Gold.
Other new items include:-
‘SALPERTON’ TABLE LAMPS: These forged metal graphic lamps come in two sizes (medium and large) and are finished in a bronzed effect.
‘LUCIA’ LAMP: this is a dressed-down version of the ‘Olivier’ table lamp, produced in White Coral and without the top finial. It is shown with a new Natural Linen lampshade in a slim straight oval shape.
‘ROCKEFELLER’ LAMP: a big, bold newcomer in the ‘Manhattan’ style, sitting on a slate base and finished in Mayan Gold.
‘BLOB’ LAMP in RUBY GLASS: to add to the existing spectrum of shimmering colours in this fabulously bold lamp, it is now available in very glamorous ruby glass with a matching ruby silk satin shade.
‘GIOVANNA’ TABLE: An elegant lacquered wood, demi-lune console table with shaped rail, decorative brass foot detail and a black glass top.
‘ANNA’ SIDE TABLE: A neat, circular side table finished with a round lacquer top in either black or white on a simple bronzed effect metal base.
“Be daring, be different, be impractical. be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the slaves of the ordinary.” Cecil Beaton
To download the Porta Romana catalogue, please click on the following links:
