From Mannequins to Arty Objects: Bonaveri Launches Decor Line

MILAN — Historic Italian company Bonaveri, a leading manufacturer of mannequins, bust forms and display tools for luxury brands and fashion exhibitions, has stepped into interior design with the launch of the Bonaveri Décor label of arty objects.

Titled “The 10 Collection,” the inaugural range of the brand was officially introduced with a three-day pop-up store at 10 Corso Como here, closing on Thursday. The sculptural pieces, which nod to the company’s roots and its expertise through conceptual, abstract or stylized takes on human anatomy, are available to pre-order at the dedicated online store bonaveridecor.com.

Priced between 1,100 euros and 9,500 euros, the artworks reference different body parts rendered through an array of techniques and materials, ranging from bioresin and marble to terracotta, bronze and wood. The result is a collection combining classicism, surrealism and pop touches, and aimed at presenting the company’s products under a different light — not just as tools at a service of fashion brands but via objects that can have a say and stand in a space on their own.

Items in the collection draw inspiration both from Bonaveri’s archives and acclaimed artists, with key pieces including the red veined marble sculpture “Loisir,” referencing a 1967 Bonaveri piece; “The Red Hand” red bioresin artwork referencing a 1968 item; the “Silho” ash sculpture pointing to a 1984 mannequin, and “Romano,” a yellow bioresin bust of the company’s founder, who launched the firm in 1953 by leveraging his own remarkable sculpting skills.

The range also comprises the likes of “The Baroness,” evoking Constantin Brâncuși’s 1910 sculpture “The Sleeping Muse”; “Homage to Barbara,” inspired to the “Cosdon Head” artwork by English sculptor Barbara Hepworth; and “Adele,” a lacquered durmast reinterpretation of a piece hailing from the Bonaveri family’s private collection.

Each object is flanked by a pedestal specifically designed for the occasion and crafted from materials such as painted metal, terracotta and raw concrete, with finishes encompassing smooth, porous, reflective or intentionally imperfect surfaces.

The collection was developed under the artistic direction of Emma Davidge in collaboration with Andrea and Tommaso Bonaveri. In particular, Andrea is currently at the helm of the company his father Romano established at Renazzo di Cento, near Ferrara, in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region.

From this 40,000-square-foot HQ, Bonaveri manufactures more than 15,000 mannequins per year across different lines, from the stylized shapes of the Schläppi family to the flexible ones of the Bonaveri Sartorial range, passing through the B by Bonaveri brand inspired to youth culture and designed for the premium mass market and the Bonaveri Elements group dedicated to accessories. With the acquisition of the Adel Rootstein brand in 2019, Bonaveri also entered the world of semi-realistic mannequins.