The prevailing consensus about Andy Warhol is that he was a great artist, though this wasn't owed so much to innate artistic talent as to an ability to see what others could not. Hence his re-contextualization of celebrity-as in his colored tints of Marilyn Monroe; or his reclamation of the mundane-as in his famous Campbell's Soup cans-struck a cord because they made us examine the familiar with fresh eyes. Just so with manufacturer 14 Ora Italiana's Uonuon Collection of Fine Porcelain Stoneware.

Uonuon Collection of Fine Porcelain Stoneware. Manufactured by 14 Ora Italiana.

14 Ora Italiana's Uonuon Collection Resembles Technicolored Wood

The connection with Warhol is made manifest because of  the manufacturer's direct mention of the artist: "Uonuon Collection draws the inspiration from Andy Warhol works of art. The screening technique and the impaired printing of colours are the main feature of this production."

But even were it not for this blurb the connection with Warhol is clear, as the overlay of vibrant colors infused into the stoneware resembles not only the famed celebrity tints alluded to earlier, but also the early filmic technique (in the days before color) of hand-coloring individual prints.

Anyone who's seen The Wizard of Oz knows whereof I speak. But even if you're familiar neither with Warhol nor with hand-tinted films, you'll be captivated by Uonuon's aesthetic. The really great trick about these stunning technicolor surfaces is that they resemble wood to a fault, right down to the variant grains and pronounced knots.

In Italy, however, the prevailing preference for flooring is quite often stone tile, which makes more sense in warm climates. The Uonuon collection thus saves trees and encourages energy conservation while providing the distinctive look of hardwoods-albeit with a candy-colored pallette that evokes not only Warhol, but all manner of whimsical visionaries and artists from Mondrian to Walt Disney to Tim Burton.

About the Manufacturer: 14 Ora Italiana desires to retain the old while incorporating the new-"mixing the art of ancient workmanship and the originality of the most modern productive techniques." This is no small aspiration, yet the manufacturer's product line shows they've succeeded in spades. Perhaps most impressive among 14 Ora Italiana's collection of porcelain stoneware and marble is the Uonuon Collection. Featuring wood grain patterns and vibrant coloration, the Uonuon Collection allows you to customize a look as you mix and match from-you guessed it-14 different colors.