Artedomus Experts: Episode 5 – The Art of Decoratori Bassanesi’s Ceramic Tiles

Artedomus team members from Australia explored the artistry, innovation and global collaborations behind Decoratori Bassanesi’s handmade tiles during a recent visit to its studio in northern Italy.

On a recent visit to northern Italy, the Artedomus team stepped inside the world of Decoratori Bassanesi, renowned for handmade tiles that bring a distinctly contemporary aesthetic to decorative surfaces. As the exclusive Australian distributor of Decoratori Bassanesi’s artistic ceramics, the visit offered the Artedomus team valuable insight into the people, ideas and processes behind the company.

“We have the experience of a 37-year-old company, but with the energy and the enthusiasm of a startup.”

Founded by Paolo Serraiotto in 1988, Decoratori Bassanesi has long worked at the intersection of artistry and innovation. “I like to think of Decoratori Bassanesi as a 37-year-old startup,” he told the Artedomus team. “We have the experience of a 37-year-old company, but with the energy and the enthusiasm of a startup.”

That energy continues to drive creative collaborations, particularly with Federica Biasi, the brand’s art director and a Milan-based product designer, who first connected with Decoratori Bassanesi in 2019. “I presented just the prototypes that I had in my hands, and they fell in love totally with the Wabi Sabi,” Biasi recalled. “So, we went really quickly, and I fell in love totally with the world of tiles.”

“Windy encapsulates the natural identity of wind, an invisible force, into a physical material piece.”

As art director, Biasi has helped shape the brand’s visual identity. Her Wabi Sabi collection – inspired by the Japanese philosophy of imperfect beauty – features subtle irregularities and muted tones across five colours and two sizes. The tiles are designed to be used in combination for a timeless aesthetic.

Recent collaborations have continued to expand Decoratori Bassanesi’s distinctive design language. From the Segments collection by Guglielmo Poletti to the wind-inspired detailing of Windy by acclaimed Japanese studio Nendo, each range brings a fresh perspective to surface design. “Windy encapsulates the natural identity of wind, an invisible force, into a physical material piece,” noted Kaena Rumeral-Acusa, national operations coordinator at Artedomus. “It took about two years to develop.” Offered in four colours and a single format, Windy is tactile and expressive.

“Decoratori Bassanesi and Artedomus share the same core values. That’s why we’re very excited by this partnership.”

The partnership with Denmark’s Norm Architects brings a distinctly architectural lens. “Norm Architects is one of the best 100 architects in the world,” Serraiotto said. “We are very proud to collaborate with them.” Referencing Copenhagen’s historic fabric, the studio translated architectural impressions of the city into a finely detailed ceramic range. “The range boasts five different colours across two different finishes and is available in a variety of six sizes, as well as two different-sized mosaics,” explained Rumeral-Acusa.

Thoughtfully developed and rigorously refined, these collections reflect Decoratori Bassanesi’s layered approach to material and form – one that values creativity and craftsmanship. It’s this shared ethos that underpins its partnership with Artedomus. “Decoratori Bassanesi and Artedomus share the same core values,” says Yas Bahar, Artedomus’s Victoria state manager. “That’s why we’re very excited by this partnership, with values like quality-made materials, timeless designs and collaboration with different designers that really push the boundaries of good design.”

“It’s been a real pleasure for us to take Decoratori Bassanesi into Australia and make it a success.”

Beyond form and colour, Decoratori Bassanesi also invests in durability and performance. A proprietary treatment known as salatura enhances stain resistance and simplifies cleaning without compromising texture or finish. “Every collection, the true body of Decoratori Bassanesi, has this process of salatura,” Serraiotto explained.

For Artedomus, the visit reinforced a clear alignment. “We both like to do things the right way,” said the company’s managing director, Phil Brenton. “It’s been a real pleasure for us to take Decoratori Bassanesi into Australia and make it a success.”

Tiles by Decoratori Bassanesi. Stone, tiles and surfaces by Artedomus. Production by The Local Production.