The Paper Clay Vases of Paola Paronetto

When looking at Paola Paronetto’s paper clay vases, the first impression is often surprising. Her objects seem to be made of folded paper, yet they are ceramic. The most distinctive feature of her work is a paper clay technique that combines craftsmanship with material experimentation. Her collections become instantly recognizable in contemporary design. Paola Paronetto creations are made in porcelain, stoneware, and papier-clay, with a strong focus on form and surface.

Paper clay is a mixture made of clay, paper pulp, and natural fibers. This combination enables the creation of objects that feel light yet durable, with a visual presence that differs significantly from traditional ceramics. In practice, the surface appears softer, matte, and almost fibrous, while light settles gently on each piece, emphasizing folds, marks, and irregularities. This tactile quality is exactly what makes every object so compelling, even when used simply as a decorative piece.

Paola Paronetto’s objects are functional, yet they carry the presence of sculpture. Vases, decorative bottles, bowls, and vessels are not designed only to contain, but also to build a composition within a space. Even in smaller formats, texture and color give each piece a strong identity.

Among her most beloved collections, I Cartocci is the most iconic: a family of soft, vertical forms that evoke rolled, folded, or crumpled paper. Many of the most recognizable pieces in her visual universe stem from this research. Her official website also presents several highly appreciated collections, such as Ninfea, Pistilli, Bosco, Mono, Fide, Vulcano, Anemone, Tulipano, and other series that develop the same language through different forms. The result is coherent but never repetitive: some collections explore slender silhouettes, others fuller volumes, and others organic shapes inspired by nature.

Another essential element in Paronetto’s work is color, always used as part of the form itself. The palette can range from neutral, powdery tones to brighter shades, while maintaining a mostly matte finish that enhances the surface’s material quality. Together with texture, color makes each piece recognizable even from a distance. This is why Paola Paronetto’s vases work beautifully both as standalone objects and in groupings: their visual impact shifts with the combination of heights, volumes, and tones.

At Maison&Objet 2026 in Paris, Paola Paronetto presented the new Bulbo and Trofeo collections, both made in paper clay. She also participated with Floating Ninfee, a project created with Giovanni Botticelli. This is as a decorative system in which glass or mirrored surfaces interact with ceramic elements, confirming her interest not only in the single object but also in spatial composition.