Many thanks, Matteo Licata. As a teenager, I thought Iso Rivolta autos gorgeous -- still do.

Italy was not an early industrial giant like Britain and Germany, which is part of the reason Italian design is different.

The British viewed the world through maps, geometrical drawings, and all things named and quantified (a Victorian garden would include the Latin names of all the trees). The sensual aspects that couldn't be measured fell into another world.

The British got their duality reflected in the designs of cars, clothes, buildings, and everything. Having achieved practicality, they would dress it up -- the two never quite coming together.

Best.