Designer and maker Xavier Mañosa combines expert handicraft with industrial production.
Tiili (‘brick’ in Finnish) is a collection of everyday ceramic objects designed and made by Catalan ceramicist and designer Xavier Mañosa, available exclusively from the Artek stores in Helsinki and Tokyo from November 2023. The Tiili collection vase, candleholder and wall hook come in blue, green and white glazes and can be used both indoors and outdoors. Combining expert handicraft with industrial production, all Tiili pieces possess a clarity of purpose and form, serving their essential functions with grace.
This elegance is born out of an innovative reimagining of the traditional extrusion process, in which a continuous stream of clay is passed through a shaped die, generating both external forms and internal grids. These give the clay strength, transforming a fragile, dense material into a durable, lightweight one. Each product is unique, cut by hand from the extruded clay as it flows from the machine, then dried, fired and glazed.
The development of the Tiili collection involved lengthy research in close collaboration with Artek, continually exploring materials and techniques. This relentless experimentation, pushing at expressive and practical boundaries, is a feature of Mañosa’s work. In this, his practice echoes Artek’s modernist heritage, with its syntheses of art and technology, and of industry and craft. As a result, Tiili possesses a blend of longevity, utility and beauty that perfectly matches Artek’s own design philosophy.
More design from Artek:
How Villa Mairea came to embody the Artek Interior, finished in 1939, Aino and Alvar Aalto’s modernist masterpiece
Finished in 1939, Aino and Alvar Aalto’s modernist masterpiece became a symbol of Artek’s ongoing …
The Black Edition: A201 Pendant’s Limited Return design by Alvar Aalto – Artek
Artek’s A201 is a clean-lined, stylish pendant made up of two steel cylinders and a …
The Return of Armchair 45 design by Alvar Aalto – Artek
Photography by Mikko Ryhänen, 2024 Armchair 45 returns to the collection this autumn to complement …
Forest Collection – celebrating natural variations in wood by Artek and design studio Formafantasma
Forest Collection – celebrating natural variations in wood The Forest Collection, featuring a new “wild …
Artek and Paul Smith present a new collection of reimagined Aalto pieces
Connected by a shared commitment to innovation, enduring quality and human-centric design, Paul Smith and …
Aalto Benches now available in two larger new sizes and with new seat options – Artek
Aalto Benches are functional and versatile, equally at home in the public and private spheres. …
The Aalto foldable table returns to Artek, crafted for compact living
New in: the Aalto foldable table Crafted for compact living, the Aalto foldable table extends …
Formafantasma’s Reading Room at Stockholm Furniture Fair previews Artek’s upcoming Forest Collection
Wild birch, Artek’s wider and more responsible wood selection, will be applied to a collection …
Artek presents Tiili, a new collection of extruded ceramic objects
Designer and maker Xavier Mañosa combines expert handicraft with industrial production. Tiili (‘brick’ in Finnish) …
Friendly alterations: ‘Hackability of the Stool’ by Daisuke Motogi – Artek
Friendly alterations: ‘Hackability of the Stool’ by Daisuke Motogi Artek partners with the Japanese architect …
Artek and Formafantasma introduce a new aesthetic of sustainability with “wild birch”
Stool 60 Villi is the first product to emerge from the collaboration, launching on the …
Discover Stool 60 Loimu: Limited by Nature design by Alvar Aalto – Artek
Stool 60 Loimu (flame, in English) is produced from an exceptionally rare birch variant distinguished …
The Paimio Sanatorium Anniversary Collection design by Alvar Aalto – Artek
Artek launches celebratory collection to commemorate 90 years since the Paimio Sanatorium’s opening. …
The anniversary edition of Armchair 41 by Alvar Aalto is made from beautifully oiled birch wood – Artek
Artek’s Armchair 41, also known as the Paimio chair, is one of the most beautiful …
Exhibition 11 May – 15 September 2023 by Artek 2nd Cycle to Celebrate 90 Years of Stool 60
Rare pieces from the 1930s until today are on view at Artek 2nd Cycle in …
Artek’s Stool 60 celebrates its 90th anniversary in 2023 — an extraordinary milestone for a humble wooden stool
90 Years of Stool 60 Born of modernist ideals and Finnish innovation, its great legacy …
Artek introduces the new lighting collection Kori designed by TAF Studio
Kori Collection by TAF Studio Artek introduces the new lighting collection Kori, designed by Stockholm-based …
W.W. Artek – Celebrating Wood Wood’s 20th anniversary
Artek and Wood Wood, the Danish contemporary streetwear brand, have come together to create three …
Artek + Heath – Connecting Craft in Wood and Clay
Beauty, utility, integrity, longevity – these principles guide both Artek and California based Heath Ceramics. …
TEN: 10 years, 10 stories, 10 products – A selling exhibition at Artek 2nd Cycle
Artek 2nd Cycle is Artek’s platform for pre-loved Finnish design: it buys and sells rediscovered …
From the Pacific to the Baltic: an Artek + Heath collaboration
Two companies with a shared passion for craftsmanship and beauty reimagine an Artek classic. Artek …
The Standard – Presenting ICA × Artek × Fischli/Weiss
Artek has once again teamed up with London’s Institute of Contemporary Arts, ICA, to produce …
Artek wins first ever German Sustainability Award for Design
Alvar Aalto’s iconic Stool 60 is recognised in the Icons category Artek is proud to …
The quest for a universal wooden chair – Artek meets Pekka Korvenmaa
Artek meets Pekka Korvenmaa to discuss the inventiveness of Ilmari Tapiovaara and the designer’s …
The furniture donation made it possible to create Artek´s 1940s interior for the Alvar Aalto Museum
The furniture donation from the Allan and Bo Hjelt Art Foundation made it possible to …
Tupla Wall Hook by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec – Artek
Tupla Wall Hook Designer: Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec Year: 2020 A hook is a storage …
Rope Chair by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec – Artek
More like a silhouette than a solid block, the Rope Chair is a line drawing …
The thoughts behind Artek’s stand designed by Shideh Shaygan
Shideh Shaygan: – For Artek’s stand at the Stockholm Furniture Fair 2020 I wanted to …
Chair 611, The Staying Power of a Modern Icon – Artek
In Helsinki, an upholsterer breathes new life into a set of iconic Alvar Aalto chairs …
Kiulu Bench – from bathhouse to sauna, and beyond – Artek
Kiulu Bench – from bathhouse to sauna, and beyond Koichi Futatsumata celebrates the public bathing cultures …
Alvar Aalto’s Stool 60 wins 2019 Long Life Design Award
Artek is proud to announce that Alvar Aalto’s iconic Stool 60 has been awarded the …
Artek Helsinki hosts FIN/JPN Friendship Exhibition
Two cultures meet at Artek Helsinki when the FIN/JPN Friendship Collection premieres in Finland Artek’s …
Sulava Tumblers – artek 2nd cycle @ The Glass of 2018
Artek 2nd cycle hosted The Glass of 2018 -exhibition earlier this year. The exhibition showcased …
Atelier Chair by TAF Studio – Artek
Nationalmuseum in Stockholm reopens showing Atelier Chair by TAF Studio A collaboration of Swedish design …
Kindred Spirits – Artek + Heath Ceramics Collaboration
California and Finland collide in an exclusive collection Two companies with a shared passion for …
Gotta Serve Somebody, 6 – 29 September 2018
Notko, design Hemmo Honkonen. Photo: Chikako Harada Artek, Forbo Linoleum and Aalto University present designs …
New Artek Oy office in Helsinki
Artek Oy has moved its headquarters to new premises in central Helsinki. Situated in an …
Artek at Salone del Mobile 2018
10m² with Artek: how big is small? At Salone del Mobile 2018 Artek is asking …
Aalto in Paris
Artek & The Conran Shop – a revived partnership While Alvar Aalto’s architecture and designs …
35m²: Living + Working with Artek offers a home for both living and working
Artek classic and contemporary items come together to demonstrate that even spaces of limited …
Stool 60 duos for a good cause – artek
50 artistic interpretations of Stool 60 contributing to a better world Founded in 1991, La …
Artek and BLESS create BLESS N°60
Artek and BLESS create BLESS N°60 Lobby Conquerors for the Chicago Architecture Biennial Artek and …
124° – Artek
The 124° wall-mounted mirrors have an unmistakable sculptural quality. Two faces are placed 124 degrees …
Kiila by Daniel Rybakken – Artek
For Rybakken, the challenge was to create objects that could exist in harmony with the …
The Making of Stool 60 – Artek
The stackable stool 60 created in 1933 by Alvar Aalto (1898-1976) represents the quintessence of …
Artek @ Design Miami/ Basel 2016
Artek and Kvadrat collaborate with Kuehn Malvezzi to design the Collectors Lounge at Design Miami/ …
Artek in Residence at PLY
Artek and the Hamburg interior studio PLY have joined forces to create the new retail …
Artek and the Aaltos: Creating a Modern World
On View April 22-September 25, 2016 Artek and the Aaltos: Creating a Modern World is …
Domus Chairs design Ilmari Tapiovaara 1946 – Artek
Domus Chair & Domus Lounge Chair Design Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1946 “A chair is not just …
A documentary film about Ilmari Tapiovaara (1914–1999)
A documentary film about Ilmari Tapiovaara (1914–1999) DVD Length: 12 minutes Artek Production 2012 Send …
Kiki Collection – Artek
The Kiki Collection Design Ilmari Tapiovaara, 1960 Designing not for the few, but for the …
Artek celebrates 80 years
Artek celebrates 80 years by hosting Artek Talks in Helsinki on 16 October 2015 On …
Outline collection – Artek
Artek presents a new stationery collection at Maison & Objet At Maison & Objet Paris …
Kaari collection by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec – Artek
Artek premieres Kaari Collection by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec at Stockholm Furniture Fair 2015 Artek …
Rival chair design by Konstantin Grcic – Artek
At imm cologne 2015, Artek presents Rival, the result of the first collaboration between Konstantin …
Grcic, Jongerius and Kukkapuro – a celebration of the chair
Artek at Salone Internazionale del Mobile 2014 Grcic, Jongerius and Kukkapuro – a celebration of …
Karuselli lounge chair by Yrjö Kukkapuro – Artek
Artek will kick off 2014 with the 50th anniversary of the Karuselli lounge chair, a …
Union of Ergonomics and Art – Artek at imm cologne 2014
Artek will kick off 2014 with the 50th anniversary of the Karuselli lounge chair, a …
Vitra acquired the Finnish company Artek
Artek and Vitra: a partnership built on affinity On September 6, 2013 Vitra acquired the …
Yrjö Kukkapuro and Artek have concluded a partnership agreement
The work of Finnish interior architect and furniture designer Yrjö Kukkapuro will get a new …
Lento Lounge chair – received the 2012 GOOD DESIGN™ design by Harri Koskinen
The Lento Lounge easy chair has received the 2012 GOOD DESIGN™ Award and the Interior …
Artek celebrates Alvar Aalto’s Stool 60 on its 80th anniversary by launching special editions
This year Artek celebrates Alvar Aalto’s Stool 60 on its 80th anniversary by launching special …
WHITE collection design by Ville Kokkonen – Artek
White, a new collection of lighting. Created by Artek’s Design Director, Ville Kokkonen, White offers …