ITALIAN ARTISANAL CRAFTS
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August 2020 – Cambridge // London – U.K.
8 talented Italian artisans you should know about Discovering the beautiful and precious arts, craftsmanship and skills behind these extraordinary precious objects. How did they cope during Lockdown? What are their future projects?
POLETTI INTARSI
CAMILLA FASOLI
wood inlay
textile design
ZILLIG
GALBIATI FRATELLI
stoneware
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Founder of ITALIANspaceWISE
glass
EDOARDO LIETTI
bespoke furniture
TERZAFORMA
ceramics
ANDREA SERRA
sculptures
With this publication we want to illustrate the essence of Italian Design through interesting, stimulating and curious stories and images describing uniqueness, quality and originality. An ambitious editorial project developed between Cambridge and London during lockdown. The aim of our publications is to raise awareness by supporting Made in Italy expressed in various forms: interiors, architecture, art, photography, design, trends, materials and much more. This is our support in trying to help promoting small, medium and large Italian businesses and artisans who manufacture Made in Italy treasures and iconic furniture, with the hope of boosting the Italian economy post C19 pandemia in a small but hopefully meaningful way.
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MARGHERITA CESCA NELDER-HAYNES
metalwork
GG DECORARTIST
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uaderno POLETTI INTARSI
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LOCATION: Lombardy, Treviglio
WHAT: wood inlay and marquetry for luxury furnishings and design objects.
August 2020 – Cambridge // London – U.K.
wood inlay
BACKGROUND: It all started in 1997 when the founder of Poletti Intarsi, Poletti Angelo, after years of apprenticeship with love and passion for this art, in 1977 opened his own workshop of inlays for artistic furniture dedicated to various local carpenters. Those were the years of the economic boom for furniture, and requests came from the big Brianza companies and later enquiries started to arrive from all over the world. In 2002, after their studies, his sons Matteo a graphic designer and Giada “geometra” entered the family business, learning all the techniques of this wonderful job. HOW: We start from the handmade design, then transfer it to a computer, prepare the back woods to cut the design, and immediately cut the colours to be able to recompose everything. AMBITIONS: We are launching a piece of furniture created to be a mix between traditional inlay and modern design, made to furnish any type of home from an ancient villa to a modern attic . We try to develop and make this type of art more appreciated for furniture decorations and more appealing to interior designers. We continue to work on large furniture projects for villas, embassies, hotel palaces.
LOCKDOWN “During Covid19, the company remained closed but we continued to make drawings, designs and samples for the following months and in order to have a more adequate and faster recovery, as we work all over the world”
PROJECT OF PRIDE: A piece of furniture for a high-end bar hand-crafted in fine mother-of-pearl. A successful international collaboration with three architecture practices respectively located in Parma/Italy, London and Dubai
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©ITALIANspaceWISE 2020 – Cambridge UK
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LOCATION: Campania, Amalfi
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WHAT: production of ceramics, stoneware mosaics and accessories.
August 2020 – Cambridge // London – U.K.
stoneware
BACKGROUND: Zillig was born near the Amalfi Coast. The sea breeze and its colours have influenced our reality. A reality that has lived on clay for centuries. Since 1998 we have been proposing and renewing the concept of craftsmanship. Our philosophy is to carefully mix tradition and innovation working with such ancient material and transforming it into a design object. HOW: Each collection is the result of meticulous research on shapes, materials and colours. Our raw material is stoneware. Zillig produces, with strictly artisanal method, mosaics, tiles and stoneware accessories. The common denominator of all the creations is the uniqueness of the piece, modelled, glazed and decorated entirely by hand. All Zillig products are born in our laboratory, from design to construction, whether it be tiles or mosaics, of centrepieces or vases, light sources or series for the table. AMBITIONS: We continue to create new products ranging from furnishing accessories and ceramic jewels. Zillig creates many decorative proposals that stimulate conceptual, innovative and original artistic solutions. There are two important projects in the pipeline in private residences in Italy and abroad. We believe it is important, at this moment, to spend time researching and creating new products.
LOCKDOWN “Our company, despite having orders in progress, was unable to carry out any activity during the lockdown period” ---
PROJECT OF PRIDE: the collaboration with Trend Group which provided us with the foundations to face all business problems from production to marketing.
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uaderno CAMILLA FASOLI
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LOCATION: Lombardy, Milano
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WHAT: textile, tapestry and rugs for luxury interiors
August 2020 – Cambridge // London – U.K.
textile design
BACKGROUND: I am an architect and I have worked for 5 years in architectural studies carrying out my textile projects in parallel. Finally I decided to quit to dedicate myself to my projects as an artist and textile designer. I realized that my way of seeing architecture is to design spaces with fabrics, with textile sculptures, rugs, cushions, curtains. Now this is my main activity that I carry out in my laboratory in Milan. HOW: My creative process is comparable to the development of an architectural project, for which the position of each textile element within the space is important. Mine is a textile design in a contemporary key: each element is the result of a process that starts from a moment of research and then translates from the idea to development and realisation of the object / project. The technical aspects merge with the compositional and chromatic aspects of the design, created for the needs of each customer and environment. I believe that my work is halfway between art design and craftsmanship where more traditional knowledge blends with contemporary approach, offering a revisited and sometimes unexpected result. AMBITIONS: I will continue to believe and carry on my project that guarantees the customization of each textile element within the space in which it will be inserted. I do not only make products, but I also do textile and space design in which these products are inserted. Furthermore, I collaborate with other companies in the sector to try to create a creative hub linked to the world of textile design.
LOCKDOWN “I was able to complete some work at the beginning of the lockdown. Then the work slowed down and I dedicated myself to experimenting with new techniques and artistic research”
PROJECT OF PRIDE: a site-specific setting inside the O-WAY store in Bologna on the occasion of Artefiera Bologna International Contemporary Art Fair
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uaderno GALBIATI FRATELLI
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LOCATION: Lombardy, Cantú
WHAT: Craftsmen specializing in brass and iron furnishings, metalwork and balustrades.
August 2020 – Cambridge // London – U.K.
metalwork
BACKGROUND: Our story begins in the 60s with small classic furniture items. In the 70s and 80s the production of brass and wrought iron beds for the Italian and European.
HOW: Our story begins in the 60s with small classic furniture items and continues in the 70s and 80s with the production of brass and wrought iron beds for the Italians and Europeans. We specialize in the production of indoor brass balustrades which are absolutely unique. You will never find an identical balustrade among our creations. Our designs combine traditional and the latest generation’s technology. Scrolls and curls in solid bar curved by hand, cast components made with the mould technique in sand or lost wax integrated with pieces cut in lasercut or waterjet technique. All mechanically framed in structures with computerized control tools for precision. AMBITIONS: We have a line of outdoor products in the pipeline which aims to expand our sales capacity in Italy and in the neighbouring EU countries. This new collection was supposed to be launched at the Milan Furniture Fair 2020 but unfortunately this didn’t happen because of Covid19.
LOCKDOWN “We were relatively "lucky" during Covid19, we only closed the business for 3 weeks. We had to furlough all employees except for the admin staff who were able to work remotely. Our problems have come to the reopening, since working almost exclusively with foreign countries we have postponed the delivery dates specifically to America and Russia. We are still waiting to understand when we will be able to complete these orders”.
PROJECT OF PRIDE: recently we have made a series of balustrades for a villa in New York in a galvanised gold bath finish with cast details created especially for the customer.
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LOCATION: Piedmont, Turin
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August 2020 – Cambridge // London – U.K.
glass
WHAT: decorative finishes on glass, using traditional techniques and the antique art of verre églomisé. BACKGROUND: I have always cultivated a passion for arts and creative craftsmanship. After graduating from the Albertina Academy of Fine Arts in Turin, I began my career in the world of theatrical scenography. Transferred to London, I landed in the decorative arts, specializing in glass. HOW: The application of gold leaves, silver or other precious metals, the use of resins, natural pigments and oxidative products, contribute to the creation of unique pieces, never replicable. Combinations of materials, technical and stylistic fusions that enhance ancient and modern aesthetic elements. I create decorative finishes on glass, using traditional techniques such as the silvering bath for mirrors and the antique art of verre églomisé. I apply gold, silver or other precious metal leaves, resins, natural pigments and oxidative products on glass to realize unique pieces. AMBITIONS: In London I got fascinated by the Anglo-Saxon love for handmade craft and the pleasure of transferring knowledge and the technique. I learnt traditional decoration processes including glass flaring, used since the 19th century in Venice. After returning to Italy, unfortunately I realised that Made in Italy high quality craftsmanship is slowly disappearing . Not many are involved in this type of work, and my desire is to keep this art alive being able to live on what I love to do.
LOCKDOWN “I was unable to work during the lockdown as it was not possible for me to go to the laboratory, I took the opportunity to do research and design work”
PROJECT OF PRIDE: Collaboration with "Mathew Bray and Matthew Collins Decorative Arts" developing designs for private residences in Chelsea, Yorkshire and Emirates.
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LOCATION: Tuscany, Florence
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WHAT: Development of unique design objects.
August 2020 – Cambridge // London – U.K.
bespoke furniture
BACKGROUND: I grew up in Florence and have had a strong interest in art and design from an early age. I studied art and design in my hometown where I got to explore and develop my design knowledge and ideology, from there I began to build my own designs experimenting with the concept of creating with my own hands. This led to my first series of self made objects. Since then I have worked in many different fields related to design and craftsmanship in places all over the world always striving to develop my point of view on design and craft. HOW: My designs are based of simple timeless shapes and I tend to chose simple honest materials to work with to create an harmony in my objects. It is important that the materials are working well in their practical use and I base the concept of how I work with materials out of architecture principles and Italian building history. The study process of an idea into a product is important to me and I have from early on build maquette and models to inform my building process. Though this perspective the cutter is my most important tool as it from the first cut gives me information of how to construct my real size objects and what tools to use. I work with simple tools where I can control the process and modestly shape my objects into life. AMBITIONS: I am now in the process of a new fun collaboration to develop and adapt this chair for a new venue, which is something I am very exited about.
LOCKDOWN “I have just moved to Sweden I where have taken other jobs in the building construction field slightly away from design but fortunately l am learning new skills that always inspire my ideation and design process”
PROJECT OF PRIDE: Collaboration for designing a temporary window for Ferragamo in Florence, Television stenography and “Sedia Tonda” -- a timeless design focused on portability and self-assembly.
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LOCATION: Veneto, Rovigo
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WHAT: Contemporary artistic ceramic workshop and art objects for interior decoration with showroom for direct sales.
August 2020 – Cambridge // London – U.K.
ceramics
BACKGROUND: The formula I coined is A2C "Artist to Consumer", a designer of self-production and a communicator of the contents of the artistic object. Furthermore, it is a source of pride for me that my workshop was chosen, after a European selection, by the Interreg-ARTISTIC call for the "enhancement and support of companies that work to safeguard and spread the European intangible cultural heritage ICH ". A crowdfunding campaign is currently underway under the auspices of the European Union. HOW: "In the hands lies the power of creativity, through them passes the creative idea that becomes an artistic object.“ AMBITIONS: I am currently focusing on communications to spread the awareness of my business and my products. Unfortunately, my reference market is still stalled. Merchants and gallery owners, interior design operators are just starting up again and do not yet show a great desire to invest in artisanal products. I am hoping to gain visibility in an enlarged market through ecommerce
LOCKDOWN “Just four months after opening, I had to close the business for more than three months and stop production and the laboratory activities scheduled for spring. In June I reopened, with enormous uncertainty about the possibility of rescheduling the activities from September, given that there is a widespread fear of an outbreak of the epidemic” PROJECT OF PRIDE: "AUTORITRATTI - Storie di Oggetti” an exhibition of 50 artists, held during Lockdown, organized by "Plastic Fund" in Asolo. Two techniques: The "cold" or "sweet" raku ceramic. Fire and heat as a generator element, which combines wood and clay in a single expressive body, natural elements of excellence.
©ITALIANspaceWISE 2020 – Cambridge UK
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©ITALIANspaceWISE 2020 – Cambridge UK
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LOCATION: Apulia, Lecce
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WHAT: Creation of a Lecce stone sculpture inspired by nature and Salento traditions in a modern key
August 2020 – Cambridge // London – U.K.
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BACKGROUND: From an early age, I came into contact with the world of beauty thanks to my grandfather, sculptor and painter on wood, and my mother, art teacher. I nurtured my creativity and love for sculpture thanks to nature that enveloped and inspired me. That is why I sculpt en-pleine-air in the beautiful Salento countryside. HOW: Each of my works takes shape starting from a block of stone that I carve with the use of a hammer and chisel and other manual tools. Each sculpture is an exclusive piece of art that contains a kaleidoscope of emotions, with a poetic and highly evocative character. A hug, a maternal love, a passion, the infinite, an angelic flight, this time the inspiration for the artist does not come directly from nature, but from the feelings, from the emotions that life gives us every day. The one hidden behind each sculpture is a unique creative act that captures an emotion and embeds it forever in the rock. AMBITIONS:I am hoping to develop collaborations with galleries outside Italy
LOCKDOWN “Working in my open-air laboratory I was lucky enough to be able to continue sculpting my creations during the lockdown. Unfortunately my showroom has remained closed and some of the events to which I exhibit my works were cancelled, in the coming months I am planning to participate in other events that will certainly have repercussions” PROJECT OF PRIDE: I sculpted for an important foreign international artist who has a residence in Salento, a trio of man-height sculptures representing my personal interpretation of his art, that of music.
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©ITALIANspaceWISE 2020 – Cambridge UK
In this issue of Quaderno // CONTRIBUTORS MARGHERITA CESCA NELDER-HAYNES Concept Development AGATA BRANEWSKA Editorial Support ANDREA RIZZOTTO Graphic Support
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For advertising information please contact italianspacewise@gmail.com Submissions and contributions are welcome. Quaderno for ITALIANspaceWISE is a on-line publication about Italian Design. Reproduction, duplicating, distribution and remixing are encouraged providing you give credit to the material source and allow the same conditions to your contributors. Thank you for your cooperation. ©ITALIANspaceWISE 2020 – Cambridge UK