Campania signs Smithsonian license

-- Casual Living, 8/17/2009 4:32:00 AM

Smithsonian Eastlake Fernbox

Garden accessory manufacturer Campania International signed a license with the Smithsonian Institution to produce a significant line of handcrafted containers, rich in American history.
 
The line was reproduced from decorative garden furnishings dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the Smithsonian’s Garden Furnishings Collection.
 
“The Smithsonian Collection by Campania is a natural extension of the Smithsonian home décor line,” said Carol LeBlanc, director of Smithsonian’s Business Development & Licensing division. “Campania has captured the drama, grandeur and design motifs of the many plant containers, vases and urns that are found throughout the Smithsonian gardens.”
 
The Smithsonian Collection by Campania line is reproduced from original cast iron garden ornaments found in the Smithsonian’s horticulture collections. The line contains diverse design styles of the past that range from rustic and naturalistic to formal and ornate, many of which have rarely been available since the early 20th century. The Smithsonian Collection by Campania will launch this fall with 14 pieces.
 
“We were impressed with the opportunity to present a unique line of garden ornaments from the latter part of the 19th century, which is a rarity in today’s marketplace,” said Peter Cilio, vice president of Campania International. “The pieces all have interesting textures that have a certain look and feel, and are tastefully ornate.”
 
From classic fluted urns featuring a Victorian twist to containers adorned in stylized acanthus leaves, the Smithsonian Collection by Campania line of containers serves both decorative and utilitarian purposes.
 
“These pieces, which are mostly Victorian garden urns, can be used in both traditional and more elaborate gardens and landscapes,” Cilio said. “They celebrate the art and culture of the era that can be found both inside and outside the Smithsonian museums.”
                                   
The line interprets American style in a unique way, capturing the elegance of classic embellishments of an era that added charm and beauty to the garden.