Vicolo Via Mameli

Nicola and Ryan opened Vicolo Via Mameli late last year in October in one of my favorite streets in Milan, Via Goffredo Mameli. The narrow street is lined with beautiful residential buildings from the 1930s, trees that bloom in the spring and Jasmine shrubs flowering during summer.

I got to know the shop and met Nicola when I found them online for beeswax candles that they actually make themselves. I could not resist and bought a pair of hand blown glass candle holders as well.

We met during the lockdown when he delivered the items to my doorstep and had a brief chat, of course— social distanced, both with masks AND outdoors. By then, they were just open for a few days but were forced to close again due to COVID restrictions. I could not wait to visit their shop.

When retail stores finally opened, I went for a visit. It was a cozy space with a mezzanine. The lower ground floor had a sofa with velvet pillows, a small closet with wool jackets in neutral tones from France, and at the end of the space, a lavatory where there were handmade soap from Sweden and pitchers in both enamel and ceramic.

On the upper floor, a single bed was set up in front of a non working fireplace, with patchwork quilts coming from India and Venetian linen sheets. Antique chandeliers were hanging from the high ceiling and a bunch of dried bouquets from the Italian Alps.

The window display is also something I always look forward to seeing whenever I go, they change it from time to time. From there you could also see the candle display on an antique wooden ladder which was used to harvest olives. Their selection of objects always go back to their roots- being closely connected to nature. There is a great appreciation for the materials and process of creation of each and every piece.

They have since expanded their shop next door.

We started talking about creating something for the store which they can offer together with their other goods. 

Nicola asked me to make some coasters and serving dishes/trivets and gave me the freedom to create them however I wanted. 

I made these coasters with rattan that I brought with me from my last trip home. They remind me of a cup and saucer pair. I thought the lip would secure the glasses and prevent  them from toppling over. We decided to make 3 different sizes. 

The trays were woven spontaneously, instead of creating a round shape, I played with the movement of form and went back and forth with the looping of the strands.

These limited items are exclusively available at Vicolo Via Mameli.