Mainly a trade fair, the Salone del Mobile Milano might be for wheelin’ and dealing, with lots of conventional furniture designs on show. But we spotted these quirky pieces that simply broke the mould. 

I+I (i and i) Wild Furs

Several designers and artists were asked to design a rug bearing the coat of a wild animal, and this one by Massimo Giacon was so arresting, we spotted it straightaway. 

 

Sicis Art Mosaic

This mosaic-encrusted bathtub by Sicis, which makes dramatic murals out of mosaic, gives new meaning to the term “well-heeled”. 

 

Sugar by Raw Edges

Moroso always has something evocative and different at their stand, and this year we felt the sweet Sugar stools by Raw Edges were definitely design candy. 

 

Everything from Gufram

Softcrete modular sofa


Magnolia pouf
The pink lighting at the stand changed the complexion of the Softcrete modular sofa by Ross Lovegrove, which looks like blocks of concrete but are actually made of bouncy foam. New also this year are the Magnolia and Hortensia pouffes by Marcel Wanders

 

Xai side table by BD Barcelona


The only company licensed to produce the furniture in Surrealist master Salvador Dali’s art, BD Barcelona has reproduced the lamb-table seen in the artist’s work Intrepretation Project for a Stable-Library. Working with famed Parisian taxidemist Deyrolle, the company has produced only 20 white lambs and one black lamb, but each one is completely unique.

 

Up in the air table by Viccarbe

Goldfish live forever in this table by Ramon Ubeda and Otto Canalda for Viccarbe. Sculpted by a professional sculptor who used to be a fisherman, the fishes “swim” in a crystal clear pool of “water” of which the material is a trade secret. Watch the video on the making-of: