Villari

Villari, formerly known as Porcellane VILLARI, was an Italian porcelain craft workshop established in 1967 by Cesare and Silvia Villari in Solagna, Italy. The business began with fine porcelain figurines influenced by the Capodimonte tradition, a style associated with highly detailed decorative porcelain and sculptural ornament. Its early identity was rooted in artisanal production rather than mass-market tableware, with an emphasis on hand finishing, ornamental modeling, and decorative objects intended for prestigious interiors. During the 1970s, Villari broadened its range beyond figurines. The company introduced cups, vases, and chandeliers decorated with handcrafted porcelain flowers, helping it develop from a specialist figurine workshop into a wider luxury home and interiors brand. Its product categories later included fine porcelain, lighting, home décor, tabletop products, bathroom accessories, home fragrance, scented candles, corporate gifts, and jewelry. The brand also served architects and designers through a dedicated offering for professional projects and interior schemes. A significant design direction emerged in 2000 with the creation of a collection inspired by reproductions of neoclassical objects, including forms associated with pieces held at the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. This work led to the Grande Impero Collection, which drew on Empire-style forms developed in France during the later phase of the neoclassical period between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The collection connected Villari's porcelain expertise with historical design references and positioned its objects as collectible interior furnishings as well as functional or decorative household goods. Villari also became associated with collaborations involving contemporary artists and designers. In 1988, it produced two works commissioned by American pop artist Jeff Koons: St. John the Baptist, a free interpretation of Leonardo da Vinci's painting, and Michael Jackson and Bubbles, a life-size sculpture depicting the singer with his chimpanzee. The latter was finished in 24-carat gold leaf. Villari's work with Koons linked its traditional porcelain craftsmanship to contemporary art and museum-oriented collecting. Later collaborations involved designers and artists including Fabio Novembre, Ferruccio Laviani, Li-Jen Shih, Giulio Gianturco, CQ Studio, Elena Xausa, and Ramz, also known as Abdul Al-Romaizan. The brand was distributed internationally through single-brand boutiques and luxury retail locations in major cities. Locations and distribution cited for Villari included Dubai Mall in Dubai, Harrods in London, Istanbul, Beijing, and other international markets. This distribution model supported a premium positioning built around Italian craftsmanship, elaborate ornament, collectible design, and luxury gifting. The available reference material describes Villari as a former Italian porcelain workshop and does not establish a current operating structure, ownership, website, or financial condition. Accordingly, the brand is treated here as defunct or no longer operating in the documented form. Its historical significance rests on the combination of Italian porcelain production, neoclassical and Empire-inspired collections, luxury interior products, and collaborations that brought its craft production into the contemporary art sphere.

Villari was founded in 1967 by Cesare and Silvia Villari as a porcelain craft workshop in Solagna, Italy. The company initially concentrated on finely made figurines inspired by the Capodimonte porcelain tradition. This foundation gave the brand an artisanal identity based on modeled porcelain, decorative detail, and hand finishing. In the 1970s, Villari expanded its portfolio to include cups, vases, and chandeliers embellished with handcrafted porcelain flowers. The move diversified the business into tableware, decorative objects, and lighting while preserving porcelain as the central material and visual language. Over time, the range developed into a broader luxury home collection covering lighting, fine porcelain, tabletop goods, interior decoration, bathroom accessories, fragrance products, candles, corporate gifts, jewelry, and services or resources for architects and designers. In 1988, Villari produced two works commissioned by Jeff Koons. One was St. John the Baptist, a free interpretation of Leonardo da Vinci's subject. The other was Michael Jackson and Bubbles, a life-size depiction of the singer and his chimpanzee covered in 24-carat gold leaf. The works associated Villari's craft capabilities with contemporary art and were later exhibited in museums and institutions in Europe and the United States. In 2000, Villari introduced a collection based on reproductions of neoclassical objects and historical forms, including references to items associated with the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. This initiative resulted in the Grande Impero Collection, whose design vocabulary drew from the Empire style that developed in France during the later eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The collection reinforced Villari's interest in historical design, monumental ornament, and collectible interiors. The company subsequently worked with a number of contemporary artists and designers, including Fabio Novembre, Ferruccio Laviani, Li-Jen Shih, Giulio Gianturco, CQ Studio, Elena Xausa, and Ramz, also identified as Abdul Al-Romaizan. These collaborations complemented the brand's traditional porcelain production with more contemporary interpretations. Villari distributed its products internationally through single-brand boutiques and luxury retail venues. Locations mentioned in reference material include Dubai Mall, Harrods in London, Istanbul, and Beijing, alongside other major world capitals. The brand therefore operated across luxury home décor, collectible design, gifting, and interior furnishings rather than as a conventional mass-market ceramics manufacturer. The available account identifies Villari as a former Italian porcelain workshop. It does not provide reliable information about a successor company, current ownership, a surviving website, or present-day operations. The documented history consequently ends with Villari's historical product and distribution activities rather than a confirmed active business.

• 2001

  Michael Jackson and Bubbles is auctioned

  [1]Villari (company)en.wikipedia.org

  A copy of the Koons-associated Michael Jackson and Bubbles sculpture is sold at Sotheby's in New York.

• 2000

  Grande Impero Collection is developed

  [1]Villari (company)en.wikipedia.org

  Villari develops a neoclassical collection inspired by historical objects and Empire-style forms, including references to the Hermitage Museum.

• 1988

  Jeff Koons commissions two works

  [1]Villari (company)en.wikipedia.org

  Villari produces St. John the Baptist and Michael Jackson and Bubbles for Jeff Koons.

• 1970

  Product range expands beyond figurines

  [1]Villari (company)en.wikipedia.org

  During the 1970s, Villari adds cups, vases, and chandeliers decorated with handmade porcelain flowers.

• 1967

  Villari is founded in Solagna

  [1]Villari (company)en.wikipedia.org

  Cesare and Silvia Villari establish a porcelain craft workshop in Solagna, Italy, initially focusing on Capodimonte-inspired figurines.

Luxury Italian porcelain and decorative-interiors brand combining traditional handcraft, historical European ornament, collectible sculpture, and contemporary artist and designer collaborations.

• Fine porcelain · 1967

  Capodimonte-inspired porcelain figurines

  Villari's earliest documented products were finely modeled porcelain figurines influenced by the Capodimonte tradition. These pieces established the workshop's emphasis on sculptural detail, ornamental character, and hand-finished decorative porcelain.

• Lighting · 1970

  Porcelain-flower chandeliers

  Introduced during the brand's 1970s expansion, these chandeliers combined lighting structures with handmade porcelain flowers. They expressed Villari's approach to turning traditional porcelain ornament into large-scale interior objects.

• Decorative interiors · 2000

  Grande Impero Collection

  The Grande Impero Collection drew on neoclassical and Empire-style forms, with inspiration from historical objects and references associated with the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. It extended Villari's porcelain expertise into historically informed luxury décor and collectible furnishings.

• Art sculpture · 1988

  Michael Jackson and Bubbles

  This life-size work depicts Michael Jackson with his chimpanzee, Bubbles, and was finished entirely in 24-carat gold leaf. It was one of two works produced by Villari in connection with a Jeff Koons commission and became the subject of a high-value Sotheby's sale in 2001.

• Art sculpture · 1988

  St. John the Baptist

  St. John the Baptist was a free interpretation of Leonardo da Vinci's subject, produced by Villari as part of the same Jeff Koons commission that included Michael Jackson and Bubbles. Four copies were produced according to the available reference.

• Luxury home décor

  Home and lifestyle collections

  Villari's broader catalog included fine porcelain, tabletop products, vases, lighting, bathroom accessories, home fragrance, scented candles, corporate gifts, jewelry, and products or resources for architects and designers. The range positioned the brand as a complete decorative-interiors house rather than a single-category ceramics maker.

• 2000

  Launch of the Grande Impero design directionProduct launch

  Background

  Villari pursued historical and neoclassical references beyond its earlier figurine-centered identity.

  Action taken

  It developed the Grande Impero Collection using forms associated with neoclassical and Empire-style objects.

  Aftermath

  The collection strengthened the brand's positioning in historically inspired luxury interiors and collectible décor.

  Source

• 1988

  Expansion into contemporary art collaborationOther

  Background

  Villari used its porcelain and decorative-art capabilities in a collaboration with Jeff Koons.

  Action taken

  The company produced St. John the Baptist and Michael Jackson and Bubbles.

  Aftermath

  The works connected Villari with international contemporary-art exhibitions and museum collections.

  Source

• 1970

  Diversification into broader interiorsStrategy

  Background

  After beginning with porcelain figurines, Villari sought to broaden its commercial and design scope.

  Action taken

  The company added cups, vases, and porcelain-flower chandeliers during the 1970s.

  Aftermath

  The expansion helped establish Villari across decorative objects, tabletop products, and lighting.

  Source

1. 1Villari (company)en.wikipedia.org