Designers and artists unite to raise funds with Design Loves Milano, an online auction raising funds for Milan hospitals
Design Loves Milano is a glimmer of hope amidst the current pandemic. A leading Italian auction house, Cambi, are helping to raise funds in collaboration with Milan-based creative duo Annalisa Rosso and Francesco Mainardi with Design Loves Milano - the latest project to be born from Milan during a time when we would all normally be flocking to the city to celebrate Milan Design Week in the busy streets of Brera.
Alltubes Cabinet, 2020, Muller Van Severen, 3000-5000 Euro estimate.
Design Loves Milano aims to gather an incredible roster of prominent international designers such as Fernando and Humberto Campana, Formafantasma, Roberto Sironi, Muller Van Severen and Analogia Project, to name a few. Milanese collage artist and art director Alvvino, based in Milan, is also contributing to Design Loves Milano with an illustration featuring the city’s key architecture and design landmarks which informs the identity of the project. Alvvino’s illustration will also be included in the auction.
Poltrona 008, 2006, Dimoremilano, 3500-5000 Euro estimate.
The carefully-curated selection of designers spearheaded by Mr Lawrence ( founded by Annalisa Rosso and Francesco Mainardi) will each participate with the Design Loves Milano initiative to gift valuable items of artwork and design, all of which will be auctioned with thanks to Cambi during an online sale on the 12th May 2020.
Murano 2000 CA, Rodolfo Dordoni (1954) Venini, 600-1000 Euro estimate.
Proceeds will be gifted to ASST (Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale) Fatebenefratelli of Ospedale Luigi Sacco. The association has been chosen as the charity partnership because of their current and future work ensuring the recovery of the city of Milan, one of the Italian cities severely hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Stracciatella Big Bowl, 2018, Tellurico, 1400-1800 Euro estimate.
The donation will help Ospedale Sacco with the purchase of equipment and services to sustain local research groups in the development of a vaccine to stop the spreading of Covid-19.
Matteo Cambi, President and CEO of Cambi Auction House comments:
“We are working on this extraordinary project with great enthusiasm. Milan, the beating heart of design has its ‘children’ all over the world and it is incredible for us to see so many designers and design professionals come together with the common goal to help support the city. “
Lampada 573, Gino Sarfatti, 2000-3000 Euro estimate.
“We like to think that the great design masters of the past, but also of today, international icons of Milan, are all reunited in this charitable initiative. Design Loves Milano is not just aimed at the city but at the entire population of Italy. The proceeds of the auction will in fact be devolved to the research groups of Ospedale Luigi Sacco that are currently working on the development of the vaccine for Covid-19 and the immunological serum test.’’
Agatha Coffee Table, 2020, Draga and Aurel, 2000-3000 Euro estimate.
The result of the initiative which is sure to be as diverse and inspirational as its roster of celebrated designers is completely one of a kind. The designers featured in Design Loves Milano are contributing unique pieces -a limited edition body of work - to support a city that is the so-called capital of design, reflecting the diversity and enormous creativity that still defines Milan. Most poignant of course as it falls during the time which would normally be celebrating Milan Design Week - a highlight of the design and interiors calendar.
In an innovative digital-only version of the sale catalogue, Cambi has asked the contributing designers to explain the reason behind the work of their choice that they are donating and their personal connection with the city of Milan.
The catalogue will be available on cambiaste.com from 23 April, the online auction will take place on 12th May.
Feature: Rory Robertson
Images: Design Loves Milano, 2020