Paola C.

What Paola C. does

Paola C. (legal entity: Paola C. Srl unipersonale) is a privately held Italian design house founded in 1998 and headquartered at Via Solferino 11 in Milan's Brera district. The company designs, produces, and sells premium home design objects — vases, glasses, carafes, centerpieces, candle holders, trays, and lighting items — crafted from blown glass, shaped metals, and colored ceramics. Its creative output is organized into three retail categories (Bere & Servire / Decorare / Illuminare) plus a dedicated Hospitality line for hotels and restaurants, with curated editorial collections ("Storie") produced in collaboration with internationally recognized designers Jaime Hayon, Aldo Cibic, Elisa Ossino, Cristina Celestino, and Chiara Andreatti.

The business operates on a hybrid direct-to-consumer and wholesale model. Revenue is generated through unit sales of design objects at prices ranging from €25 entry-level pieces to €1,700+ premium collectibles (most products €40–€400), distributed via the paolac.com e-commerce site, the Milan Brera flagship showroom, and a network of more than 70 authorized retailers across 27+ countries in Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. Marketing is concentrated on Instagram (@paolac.milano), an email newsletter segmented across consumer, distributor, and press audiences, and an annual presence at Milano Design Week.

The company is founder-controlled (Paola Coin and Aldo Cibic are listed as founders), operates as a sole-shareholder Srl unipersonale with no disclosed institutional investors, no funding rounds, no M&A activity, and no subsidiaries. Headcount is reported at 1–10 employees, and there is no public revenue disclosure, app, or proprietary technology platform. The competitive position rests on Italian design heritage, the exclusivity of its designer roster, and its curated global retail footprint rather than on scale, technology, or cost advantages.

Name

Paola C.

Legal name

Paola C. Srl unipersonale

Website

https://paolac.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Paola C. is a Milan-based Italian design house (founded 1998) that designs and sells premium artisanal home objects — glass, ceramics, and metal tableware and décor — created with internationally recognized designers and sold D2C, via its Brera showroom, and through 70+ global retailers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Designer Home Decor and Tableware

NAICS

Home Furnishings Retailers (44912), Pottery, Ceramics, and Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing (32711)

SIC

Retail-Home Furniture, Furnishings & Equipment Stores (5700), Pottery & Related Products (3260)

akta.pro primary industry

Decorative Accessories Retail (Vases, Bowls, Sculptures, Figurines, Trays) (CRAIACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Event Tablescapes & Centerpiece Styling (HSACAOAF), Decorative Hardware & Home Accents Retail (House Numbers, Hooks, Knobs/Pulls, Mailboxes) (CRAIACAJ)

Keywords

• Designer tableware
• Home decor objects
• Artisan glassware
• Ceramic home accessories
• Hospitality design objects

Headquarters

HQ city

Milano

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales: Paola C. generates revenue through direct sales of design objects including vases, glasses, carafes, centerpieces, candle holders, and table accessories through their e-commerce platform and Milan showroom. Products are sold at various price points ranging from €25 to €1,700+.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Paola C. designs, produces, and sells a curated collection of refined home design objects — including vases, glasses, carafes, centerpieces, candle holders, trays, and lighting items — crafted from blown glass, shaped metals, colored ceramics, porcelain, wood, and marble. Collections are co-developed with internationally renowned designers and sold directly to consumers via the company's e-commerce platform and Milan showroom, and through a global network of authorized retailers and a dedicated hospitality product line.

Product overview

Paola C. is an Italian design company offering a curated collection of home design objects, including vases, glasses, carafes, centerpieces, candle holders, trays, and lighting items. The product portfolio spans three main categories: Bere & Servire (Drink & Serve), Decorare (Decorate), and Illuminare (Illuminate). Products are crafted from materials including ceramics, wood, marble & stones, metal, porcelain, and glass. The company collaborates with internationally renowned designers including Jaime Hayon, Aldo Cibic, Elisa Ossino, Cristina Celestino, and Chiara Andreatti. The collections feature items in various materials such as blown glass, shaped metals, and colored ceramics. A notable hospitality line serves the hotel and restaurant sector.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Paola C. Design objects for the home including vases, glasses, centerpieces, candle holders, and tableware. The brand works with international designers including Jaime Hayon, Aldo Cibic, Elisa Ossino, Cristina Celestino, and Chiara Andreatti.

Products and services

• Happy objects (collection)

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Chiara AndreatticoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Chiara Andreatti is a featured designer who creates collections for Paola C., including the Sinus & Caulis collections for Milano Design Week 2026. These collections explore the relationship between glass, light, and perception.
• Jaime HayoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJaime Hayon is one of the featured designers creating collections for Paola C., contributing to the brand's distinctive design identity with his unique artistic vision.
• Aldo CibiccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAldo Cibic creates design collections for Paola C., including the Aldo glass set collection, bringing his renowned design expertise to the brand.
• Elisa OssinocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerElisa Ossino is a featured designer for Paola C., contributing to the brand's collections with her distinctive design approach.
• Cristina CelestinocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCristina Celestino is a featured designer for Paola C., creating collections that embody the brand's vision of elegant, timeless design.
• Anna Maria ConticelliminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnna Maria Conticelli curated the Milano Design Week 2026 exhibition featuring Sinus & Caulis collections by Chiara Andreatti, transforming the space into a chromatic narrative.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Alessi: Iconic Italian design house producing high-end tabletop, kitchen, and home objects in collaboration with world-renowned designers. Closely comparable to Paola C. in product categories (tableware, decorative objects), designer-collaboration model, premium pricing, and global distribution through design stores and department stores.
• Seletti: Italian design brand offering curated home objects, tableware, and lighting that blend art and daily use. Directly comparable in aesthetic, materials (ceramics, glass, metal), designer collaborations, and global retail distribution.
• Bosa: Italian brand specializing in designer ceramic and porcelain home objects and tabletop. Highly comparable in material focus (ceramics), designer-collaboration approach, premium positioning, and presence in design retailers worldwide.
• Bitossi Home: Italian home decor and tableware brand rooted in ceramic craft heritage, with a portfolio spanning vases, centerpieces, and decorative objects. Comparable in artisanal ceramic production, design-led positioning, and global distribution through design stores.
• Fornasetti: Italian luxury decor and tableware brand distinguished by signature decorative motifs and artisanal craftsmanship. Comparable in premium pricing, decorative-object focus, Italian design heritage, and presence in high-end design retailers globally.
• Venini: Historic Murano-based maker of handblown glass art and design objects. Closely comparable in artisanal glass craftsmanship, designer collaborations, premium positioning, and Milan/Italian design heritage.
• L'Objet: Luxury tabletop and home accessories brand producing decorative objects in ceramics, metals, and glass with a design-forward, artistic sensibility. Comparable in material palette, premium price points, and design-retail distribution.
• Tom Dixon: British design brand offering premium home objects, lighting, and accessories with strong designer authorship and a luxury positioning. Comparable in designer-led product development, premium price points, and global design-store distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Kartell: Established Italian design house with a much broader portfolio across furniture, lighting, and home accessories, all in collaboration with leading international designers. Comparable in designer-driven product philosophy and Italian design heritage, but at significantly larger scale and product breadth.
• Hermès (Home & Tableware): Global luxury house with a home, tableware, and decorative-object division built on artisanal craftsmanship. Comparable in premium positioning, ceramic/glass/material expertise, and presence in the same high-end department stores and design retailers, but operates at vastly greater scale and brand reach.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/paolac.milano
• Facebookfacebook.com/PaolaC.milano
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/paola-c

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Paola C.