New Delhi, April 27 -- Artist Maurizio Cattelan, the provocateur behind such works as a golden toilet titled "America," opened MilanDesignWeek by inviting people for an informal exchange of favorite objects in front of Milan's Duomo cathedral, where he stamped "White Trash" on participants' necks and hands.

The mood in Milan was buoyant as guests moved from cocktail to cocktail in some of Milan's most inviting venues on Monday before the doors of the Milan Furniture Fair opened Tuesday for the business of showing innovations in the most eclectic and energetic clash of events on the global design calendar.

Despite economic gloom and travel interruptions provoked by Mideast wars, 1,900 exhibitors from 32 countries showed their designs at ...