EDITORIAL, BOOK

CATALOGUE COLLEZIONE GIULIANO GALEOTTI

Giving shape to stone, without freezing it

Context

The Galleria di Marie-Thérèse Eckelmans-Martin, located in Massa Marittima, houses a permanent exhibition dedicated to the Collezione di Giuliano Galeotti, a remarkable collection of minerals gathered over several decades.
Wishing to preserve the integrity of this unique ensemble, Marie-Thérèse acquired it in its entirety and now presents it in a permanent, curated setting.
We were invited to design an editorial object that would accompany and extend this gesture of transmission.

Challenge

The gallery wanted more than a scientific record. The intention was to create a book that would preserve the unity of the collection while reflecting its emotional weight and visual richness. Rather than listing specimens, the aim was to design a piece that could live within the space of the gallery and resonate with the permanent exhibition. The form and content had to speak the same language.

Creative response

We imagined a hybrid object, somewhere between an art book and a catalogue raisonné. The art direction is restrained and elegant, drawing from the language of contemporary publishing and museum design. The layout follows a deliberate rhythm, alternating white space and full-page photographs to highlight the material presence of each specimen. The editorial typeface was chosen and shaped to echo geological layers and crystalline structures, reinforcing the physicality of the subject. Different paper stocks and printing techniques were selected according to the nature of the content, creating subtle shifts in texture and tone throughout the book. The folded cover features a poetic, fictitious map, a subtle nod to mineralogy as an interior landscape, while a spot varnish plays with light to reveal crystalline patterns in relief. The book is housed in a sober, custom-made case, conceived as a protective shell that reinforces its precious, archival quality. We handled the entire process, from concept development to print production, ensuring consistency and quality at every stage.

Result

This book was designed as an editorial extension of the Collezione di Giuliano Galeotti, but also as a standalone object that preserves its own presence and rhythm. Displayed within the gallery, it becomes both a memory of the collection and a companion to its exhibition. Thoughtfully printed, carefully constructed, and meant to endure, it reflects a broader gesture, one of preservation, sharing, and quiet admiration.