We have discovered in many previous posts how the history of bathroom furniture has been traversed by sanitary ware series that are incredibly beautiful in terms of form, bestsellers, innovative and capable of blazing new trails in design. In the post: ”And then comes ‘Montebianco’ Classic/antique sanitary ware and their toilet seats” we have seen how the Pozzi Ginori sanitary ware series MONTEBIANCO has been instrumental in influencing the classically retro-style sanitary wares of competing companies such as: ALBANO, LUTEZIA, LONDRA and PALLADIO. In the Post: ”Ideal Standard Linda Series is a primary form. A toilet seat cover formed by two parallel straight lines and two semicircles” we discovered a new form of LINDA Ideal Standard and the many series inspired by her: LINEA, TUSCIA, M2 and C52. In the various posts on best-selling sanitary ware: “The bestselling sanitary ware of every ceramic house. Use the Sintesibagno catalogue to find the toilet seat cover for these models” we have seen sales champions often later imitated: Ceramica Flaminia series LINK, Pozzi Ginori series EASY, Hatria Ceramiche series YOU&ME and Ceramica Globo the system OPEN SPACE , Ceramica Simas series LFT Spazio, Cesame series SINTESI, Dolomite series CLODIA and Azzurra Ceramica series DIANA. and Vincenti series ANTICA, Senesi PIENZA, MOBELLO by Laufen and ARKE’ by Galassia. Today we will focus on the ‘finalists’ of each type. The champion (the reference from where we formally started) and the ‘fiercest’ challenger (capable of perhaps beating the first clearly not in terms of time but in terms of sales or name recognition).
Conca series by Ideal Standard Vs Clio series by Ceramica Globo
Let’s start with the icon of ceramic series of all time: the Ideal Standard Conca series and its strongest challenger, capable of gaining important sales shares in the bathroom furniture market over time: the Globo ceramic Clio series. The toilet bowl and toilet cover from the ceramic manufacturer Ideal Standard have launched so many innovative features that some time ago in the post: “The CONCA toilet seat cover. Discover which product is perfect for the Ideal Standard toilet (the definitive version)” the well-described rectangular shape, the raised rear surface and the need for its toilet seat covers to have 45° slanting hinges and also slanting bumpers. Not to mention the famous colours he launched on the market (for more on this we suggest reading the posts: ”Coloured sanitary ware. Why it is difficult to find the right colour“. All Conca toilet seats, whether in coated wood or thermoset and in all official colours: champagne, mink, kashmir, beaver, pomegranate, blue, light blue, pink, grey,… you will find them in the store at the following link [ clik here ]
Given the incredible success that the Conca series was having on the market, many companies in the sector competing with Ideal Standard took their cue from its shape, at least for its time, very modern and particular and tried to compete with the legend. Almost all companies began to produce a sanitary ware practically equal in size to the Conca. Certainly the one that competed the most with Conca was the Clio series, produced by Ceramica Globo. The company decided to recall the shape, but make a change to the centre distance. We often hear customers asking for the Conca toilet seat with 18 cm centre distance. It does not exist! But there is Globo’s Clio toilet seat cover, which is a toilet seat cover similar to the Conca but with a specific centre distance. Here are the links to the Globo section in our shop where you can easily find spare parts for the Clio model! [ clik here ]
Antalia series by Dolomite Vs Antea series by Gsi Ceramica
If English/retro-style sanitary ware has become so widely popular, the credit for this ceramic series by Dolomite: Antalia. In the post on: “Classic English-style retro sanitary ware and their covers (part 1)” we saw it together with other Classic/Retro/Old England style sanitary ware and saw how they are a symbol of style and class in bathroom furnishing: ELLADE, RETRO’, ARCADE and MAGICA, These are the sanitary wares that recall the charm of yesteryear and the belle epoque of Paris. The princess of this category is certainly the Antalia series by Dolomite, which became a legend in the 90s, went out of production a few years ago, but is still current and an unmistakable icon of classic style. A version of the monobloc WC with a ceramic cistern resting on it was available, as well as a version with a wall-recessed cistern. Its original toilet seat cover with the characteristic 8 shape is clearly available in the store at the following link [ clik here ]
Who was her most competitor? In our opinion of the Sintesibagno team, the real rival to the throne of queen of this style is: Antea of Gsi Ceramiche. 8-form as Antalia by Dolomite, but with a step work in the foot of the sanitary ware that makes it recognisable and also more contemporary in terms of form. Even the fascia at the top of the sanitary ware body has been embellished with two light steps that lighten its presence. The dedicated toilet seat cover for this series is still available and can be found at the following link [ clik here ]
Zero 54 series by Ceramica Catalano Vs AXA One series by Axa Ceramiche
It is the series by Ceramica Catalano that started the glorious Zero project of the Viterbese ceramic house. First representative of the sanitary ware category with a back step that we have seen in the post: ”Special Sanitary Ware and toilet seats: WCs with back step (corner and sloping)”. With this series, the ceramic manufacturer made an international name for itself and was highly appreciated by designers and the general public. The toilet seats for this model do not fit all other versions of Zero. Apart from the dimensions, the discriminating factor in the toilet seat is the wheelbase, which in this version measures 18 cm. This Zero version has been out of production for some time, in the store you can still find the version in wrap-around thermoset at the following link [ clik here ] and a dedicated version in polyester-coated wood at the following link [ clik here ]
It had to be several years after the presentation of the Zero 54 to find a worthy stylistic competitor in its category. In our opinion, Axa has succeeded with the Axa One series. Softer, more contemporary shapes make it a very modern sanitary ware, always clearly with the special feature of the rear step. That small rear step (which also applies to the Catalano sanitary ware) embellishes the typical shape of this type of sanitary ware and above all prevents the typical impurities of toilets from reaching the wall and “stagnating” there, making it easier to clean! Axa One is beautiful and useful! A further aesthetic benefit generated by the step is that once the toilet seat is fitted, the top of the seat will be perfectly aligned with the step itself, creating a very refined continuous plane. On this toilet seat we recommend the use of the original toilet seat (although a cheaper replica is available in the store), firstly for a perfect aesthetic result, and secondly because the toilet seat itself falls into the special 24.5/25 cm centre distance category. The original toilet seat can be found in the Sintesibagno store at the following link [ clik here ]
