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One of the
delights of living in Italy is having creative craftsmen and
artisans close to hand.
Each month we will feature artisans who work with different
materials and produce unique objects. Interested in visiting
their workshops or having a tailor-made itinerary for a certain
area of Italy? Contact
macryan@alice.it .
Feel free to contact these artisans directly and don’t forget
to tell them that you learned about their work on Elegant
Etruria.
Handicrafts special objects and the people who create them
Two young Moldavian artists
Two young Moldavian artists, Catalin Pislaru and Irina Ojovan
study art during the week in Rome’s Fine Arts Academy (Accademia
di Belle Arti) and in their free time create Byzantine icons in
a studio located in Vetralla. Following the Russian tradition,
the icons are painted using gold and oil paints on wood and
ceramic and carry a coded message of salvation based on the
scriptures. Prices range from 100-200 euro. Contact the artists
directly at 389-1289297 or
catalinpislaru@ymail.com
Rome
The entrance to goldsmith Massimo Maria Melis’s shop on
Via dei Portoghesi is marked by a small porphyry marble cross
set in the wall and display windows full of treasures. For over
30 years Melis has been creating one of a kind jewels for
exacting clients who flock here from all parts of the world.
These range from professors to film stars, ambassadors, writers
and others who appreciate beautiful jewelry with a Roman
flavor. Melis’s work in Etruscan, Roman and Byzantine style
includes rings , bracelets, pendants and cufflinks in gold
often enriched by precious stones, Roman coins and bits of
mosaic.
www.massimomariamelis.com
Fausto Maria Franchi
has been creating jewellery and artifacts in silver and gold
since 1962. His sparkling shop windows on Via del Clementino
are a delight with the modern shapes and forms of his unusual
jewellery, objects for the home and table and sculptures in
silver, gold and semi-precious materials created by Franchi and
his son Enrico . www.faustomariafranchi.com
Civita Castellana
Home to a once-thriving ceramics industry, the town located 50
kms. north of Rome is also the laboratory of numerous artisans
who craft reproductions of ancient Etruscan wares and ceramics
in ultra modern shapes and colors.
Franco Giorgi’s
long career was honored recently by a retrospective exhibit
“Materia e Forme “ held at the Vittoriano complex in Rome.
Pieces on view ranged from smaller vases, plates and
containers to monumental sculptures and installations. Giorgi’s
production also includes industrial design for colorful dinner
ware sold abroad - perfect examples of Italian design. Will his
hometown find a permanent showroom for the prize winning
ceramic objects of this master ceramist?
e mail
cxgiovz@gmail.com
Pier Giorgio Conti,
by profession a biologist, recently discovered a hidden
talent as decorator of ceramic vases. Here is his
reproduction of the huge Francois vase which took 3 months
to paint. The small perfume bottles painted by Conti contain
a perfume, recreated by archeologist Paola Di Silvio, exactly
like that used by Etruscan and Cretan women 2,500 years ago.
For information
Conti_piergiorgio@yahoo.it
Barbarano
Romano,
a walled medieval town of about 1000 inhabitants located
one hour north of Rome along the Via Cassia, is surrounded by
the green rolling hills of the Maturanum Nature Reserve. Visitors
can explore Etruscan rock hewn tombs or visit tiny
artisans shops like that of weaver
Patrizia Gaiba.
Originally from Bologna, Patrizia uses the natural light from
the open door to work at a her wooden loom creating soft,
colorful wool scarves, blankets and throws.
patriziagaiba@gmail.com
S.
Michele in Teverina,
a small hamlet hidden away between Bagnoregio and Orvieto, has
recently been put on central Italy’s gastronomic map thanks to
young baker and pastry chef Serena Bevilacqua. After her
studies at the “ Paul Bocuse Institute ” in Lyon and a stint at
Harrods in London, Serena has taken over the kitchen at her
family’s Castello Santa Maria where she delights in preparing
wedding receptions and special dinners for guests.
http://www.castellosantamaria.it/en/catering.html
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