Free standing refrigerator

Smeg & Dolce&Gabbana 50's Style Aesthetic

Gianfranco Fiore was born in Switzerland in 1972. He studied at the Monreale Art Institute and the Accademia of Palermo, where he took a degree in Decorative Painting. Among the narrow ancient streets of Palermo’s historic centre he discovered the world of the Sicilian cart and fell in love: he began frequenting the prestigious workshops of the few master craftsmen still in operation and learned traditional decorating techniques from them. He then opened his own studio in Partinico and, with passion and patience, tracked down damaged carts and restored them with the aim of conserving the carts themselves and passing on the tradition. He initiated a series of collaborations with local artisans, creating marvellous carts for folkloric parades and private collections; he also experiments with applying classic cart decorations on other vehicles and design objects.

Enamel and oil, 60 x 151 x 68.2 cm The decorations that appear on the surfaces of this refrigerator are a tribute to the tradition of Sicilian cart painting. The central part of the front panel features the clash of two paladins, a classic chivalric theme. On the upper part is the trinacria, symbol of Sicily and ancient name of the island. On the sides we find anthropomorphised suns and moons, accompanied by the typical star and checkerboard patterns. The historiated medallion on the top is inspired by a period postcard that reproduces a cart drawn by a horse in ceremonial regalia.