Centro Pecci Contemporary Art Center Desk Set – Prato sul Tavolo

“Prato sul Tavolo” is a desk set that represents some of the most significant symbols of the city.

Each element of the set encapsulates the history, art, and culture of Prato in a practical desk accessory. The very shapes of the buildings suggest their function: the Cathedral and Palazzo Pretorio become pen holders, the Textile Museum a post-it holder, the Pecci Center a container for small objects, and the Castello dell’Imperatore a letter holder.

The set brings together aesthetics, functionality, and cultural identity, becoming an original and versatile keepsake.

Prato is a city that preserves centuries of history, art, and culture, with medieval roots still visible in its urban fabric. The first stable settlements date back to the 11th century, when fortified villages emerged along Tuscany’s main trade routes. In the 13th century, the city experienced remarkable economic and demographic growth, driven by trade and wool manufacturing, which made textile production a defining element of its identity. This development led to the construction of public and residential buildings that still shape the city today. In the centuries that followed, Prato maintained its manufacturing vocation, enriching itself with art and architecture while adapting to historical changes. Today, it is a dynamic centre where tradition and innovation coexist, with a strong productive identity and a vibrant cultural life that both preserves the past and looks to the future.

Prato’s skyline is defined by its most iconic landmarks: the Cathedral, Palazzo Pretorio, and the Castello dell’Imperatore, long-standing symbols of the city. Alongside them stand the Textile Museum and the Pecci Center, expressions of its contemporary identity. These are the very icons chosen to represent Prato sul Tavolo, as a synthesis of history, culture, and innovation.

• The Luigi Pecci Center for Contemporary Art, inaugurated in 1988, was the first museum in Italy entirely dedicated to contemporary art. Founded by the Pecci family in memory of Luigi Pecci, a young entrepreneur from Prato, it is now an international point of reference for artistic research and experimentation. The building, designed by Italo Gamberini and expanded in 2016 by architect Maurice Nio with a futuristic structure, reflects the city’s innovative spirit. Its collection includes over one thousand works — spanning painting, sculpture, video, photography, and installations — by Italian and international artists from the late 20th century to the present day.

Alongside its permanent and temporary exhibitions, the Center hosts events, screenings, talks, and educational activities that encourage dialogue between visual arts, music, cinema, and new technologies. With its dynamic and international identity, the Luigi Pecci Center for Contemporary Art represents the contemporary face of Prato, projecting the city toward new cultural perspectives.