Chimera: a combination of initially incongruous parts

One of the most iconic monsters of the classical world, in Greek mythology the Chimera was a hybrid beast, a four-legged creature with the forequarters of a lion and the hindquarters of a dragon, with a goat’s head grafted onto its central trunk. Associated with the general ideal of combining initially incongruous parts, the term chimera refers - also in biological and zoological terms - to a fusion between units that originates a new identity, which provides an almost perfect description of the decorative inspiration behind the ceramic collection carrying this name designed by Elena Salmistraro.

In Chimera, Elena Salmistraro merges rigour with self-expression, in a graphic grammar laden with symbolic meaning. Originating from four graphic themes, this family of large slabs has a striking visual extroversion, with motifs that blend different graphic and colour codes with scraps that mimic the surfaces of stones, fabrics and leathers. In this expressive carousel, constantly pursuing the guiding image of the chimera, the designer orchestrates intriguing implanted figures, amplified by the use of an innovative ceramic surface finishing technique.