Gardeco Vase Vaso Formigueiro 001
Gardeco Vase Vaso Formigueiro 001
Gardeco Vase Vaso Formigueiro 001

Vaso Formigueiro 001

$1,378

Made by Gardeco

Domingos Tótora works from a studio in Maria da Fé, a small mountain town in Minas Gerais, Brazil, where he developed a process of transforming discarded cardboard into dense, sculptural paper pulp. The Vaso Formigueiro 001 is one of the most direct expressions of that practice: a vessel whose form and surface are inseparable from the landscape that inspired it.

The name references the formigueiro, the termite mound, a structure built from earth with astonishing precision and without instruction. Tótora finds in these formations a model for craft: patient, material-driven, and deeply rooted in place. Each piece is hand-formed, sun-dried in the open air, and finished with natural pigments that shift in tone depending on light and angle.

  • Material: recycled paper pulp with natural pigment
  • Process: hand-formed, sun-dried, individually finished
  • Origin: Maria da Fé, Minas Gerais, Brazil
  • Produced in collaboration with Gardeco

The result is an object that carries texture, time, and a specific geography. No two pieces are identical. As a sculptural vessel, the Vaso Formigueiro 001 holds its own in both residential and institutional settings, and pairs naturally with the Vaso Formigueiro 13A from the same series.

In stock, ready to ship.

3 in stock.

Pairs well with

Product Details

Details
  • Designed by Domingos Tótora for Gardeco
  • Handmade from repurposed cardboard and recycled paper materials
  • Colored with natural pigments and dried in the sun in Brazil for unique tonal variation
  • Inspired by the termite hills (formigueiro) of Maria da Fé, Brazil, turning landscape into sculptural form
  • Lightweight yet sturdy, suitable for use as a decorative object or delicate vessel
  • Each piece is one-of-a-kind due to hand-crafting and natural materials
  • Ideal for interior use as a statement vessel or artful accent in modern living spaces
Measurements

H × W × D
19.25 × 7 × 10.75 in.
48.9 × 17.78 × 27.31 cm.

  • Repurposed Cardboard, Coloured With Natural Pigments
Shipping & Returns

Please refer to our shipping and return & exchange policy.

Warranty

Luminaire is an authorized retailer of Gardeco. The product comes with a full manufacturer warranty.

Frequently Asked Questions

What material is the Vaso Formigueiro 001 made from?

The piece is hand-formed from recycled paper pulp, made by processing discarded cardboard collected in and around Domingos Tótora's studio in Maria da Fé, Brazil. The surface is finished with natural pigments and dried in the open air, giving each vessel its distinctive, earthen texture.

Is each Vaso Formigueiro 001 unique?

Yes. Because every piece is hand-formed and sun-dried individually, natural variations in surface texture, tone, and profile occur from one object to the next. These differences are considered intrinsic to the work, not imperfections.

Who is Domingos Tótora?

Domingos Tótora is a Brazilian designer and artist based in Maria da Fé, Minas Gerais, who pioneered a technique of transforming recycled cardboard into sculptural paper pulp objects. His work bridges design and fine art, drawing heavily on the natural forms, materials, and ecology of the Brazilian interior.

How should the Vaso Formigueiro 001 be cared for?

As a paper pulp object, it should be kept away from moisture and direct water contact. It is best treated as a sculptural object rather than a functional vessel. Dust gently with a dry or very lightly dampened cloth.

What is the design concept behind the Formigueiro series?

The series takes its name and formal cues from termite mounds, known in Brazilian Portuguese as formigueiros. Tótora was drawn to these structures as examples of material intelligence: architecture built entirely from local earth through accumulated, incremental labor. The series translates that idea into hand-formed vessels with tactile, terrain-like surfaces.

Brand

Gardeco
The Visitor Sculpture (Small)

Gardeco

Founded in 1999 in Zedelgem, Belgium, by Sonja Crevits and Jan Simaey, Gardeco specializes in handcrafted art-decor objects that merge artisanal craft with contemporary design.