Artisans

ART + CULTURE

ART + CULTURE

Pitti Mosaici: the De Filippis family and the almost-forgotten art of pietra dura

At the Pitti Mosaici laboratory, in piazza Pitti, master craftsmen use a centuries-old process to create museum-quality artwork.

ART + CULTURE

An air of beauty: AquaFlor

On the tip of borgo Santa Croce, a quiet street flanked by 16th-century buildings, several small openings are carved out of the meter-thick walls of the Palazzo Corsini-Antinori. Now owned ...

ART + CULTURE

Walter Morgante of Mortegan Leather

I recently sat down with Walter Morgante, a master of hand-sewn leather goods. Born in Florence, Walter is the son of artisans: his father Antonio and mother Fiorella (neé Cenni) ...

ART + CULTURE

The Enduring Legacy of Alberto Cozzi

  In Florence, the Cozzi name has long been synonymous with bookbinding, paper marbling and faithful restoration of centuries-old volumes. Alberto Cozzi, together with his wife Nella, opened their bottega ...

ART + CULTURE

Monnaluna Fashion

Fashion jewelry designer Giovanna Bruno of MONNALUNA was integral to the launch of IN BOTTEGA, and has been devising a new business model. “Many artisans have been hit particularly hard ...

ART + CULTURE

IN BOTTEGA launches online shopping connection with artisans

I’m pleased to announce the launch of a new platform designed to bring artisans of the Oltrarno together with discerning shoppers – IN BOTTEGA. The pandemic has led to an ...

ART + CULTURE

Made in Firenze: Essère Atelier and Scuola del Cuoio

Hours before opening her store, Ilaria Tolossi, owner and designer of Essère Atelier, visits an antique sartorìa to decide which fabrics will become a new dress. Minutes before visitors arrive ...

ART + CULTURE

Le Arti Orafe: where the next generation of jewellers are forged

Chinking metal on metal and hissing naked flames form the soundtrack to lab time at the Oltrarno’s LAO – Le Arti Orafe jewellery-making school. Turn off bustling via dei Serragli ...

ART + CULTURE

A jewelry store like no other: Extremida

Many artisans in Florence face the same challenge: the work is labor intensive, as is often the case when traditional methods are used. This requires a mastery of highly specialized ...

ART + CULTURE

The historical roots inspiring contemporary jewelers

Talking about jewelry in Florence is sure to conjure up images of golden treasures lining tiny shop windows along the Ponte Vecchio, but that is only a small part of ...

COMMUNITY

Impactful yet playful: Marina Calamai

Through art, jewellery and events, Marina Calamai’s oeuvre is emotionally impactful yet playful, operating from the belief that, when we laugh, our hearts open to learning.      Love Labyrinth ...

ART + CULTURE

The Divine Comedy in sculpture: Timothy Schmalz

Canadian sculptor Timothy Schmalz is the creative force behind an engaging and dramatic upcoming exhibition at the Badia Fiorentina. The 100 cantos of Dante Alighieri’s much-loved masterpiece, the Divine Comedy, ...

ART + CULTURE

Summer inspiration with Creative People in Florence

What do Florentine artists daydream about on a hot summer day as they overlook their city from Michelangelo’s favorite piazzale? Well, gelato of course! But after a couple of scoops ...

ART + CULTURE

Artisans: substance and meaning

As life slowly returns to normal, the Artisan Quarter Association founders and its members are breathing a sigh of relief to have met our primary goal of ensuring all our ...

ART + CULTURE

Giuliana Becattini of BeGiuls

In Bottega works to support and preserve culture and art in the Oltrarno. Known for its bottegas and artisan workshops, this quarter of Florence has long been associated with the ...

ART + CULTURE

Studio Wick: restoring art on paper

Veronika Wick is a quintessential example of the Florentine dream, where her passion for past traditions led to the creation of beautiful new objects, made available through her artisan-based small ...

ART + CULTURE

Meet Renato Olivastri

In Bottega was founded to raise awareness of the deteriorating situation in the Oltrarno and to privately fund our support efforts through donations. Our membership is comprised of local craftspeople ...

ART + CULTURE

The artists among us: Daniel Graves

The longer I live in Florence, the more convinced I am that there is some unusual magic in this place where artistic souls have not just passed through for millennia, ...

ART + CULTURE

Meet Alicia Roca

At In Bottega, supporting our members through the pandemic is our first priority. Our association was founded to raise awareness of the deteriorating situation for artisans and craftspeople in the ...

ART + CULTURE

Our dream to revive the Oltrarno in 2021

The Oltrarno neighborhood has long been known to be a hub of artisanal workshops. Rich in culture and history, this artisan quarter is home to many talented professionals whose original ...

ART + CULTURE

Made to measure: a conversation with Saskia Wittmer

Entering the storefront of Saskia Wittmer’s shoe workshop, you are greeted by varying mesmerizing sounds—light taps to leather, hard strikes of a hammer and the gentle rub of various lotions—yet ...

ART + CULTURE

FAF: a new collective is born

With March 8 a day dedicated to celebrating women, we herald the arrival of a new all-female artisans’ collective in Florence: FAF, an acronym for Female Artisans in Florence.   ...

ART + CULTURE

Six makers of Florence

We preface this piece with an apologia. Florence thrives with creativity and artisans are found all over the show; it would be impossible to mention everyone. Here are six international ...

ART + CULTURE

Soul of the city: the Cassettai

They are in the city’s piazzas every day of the year, but you might have thought they were just ubiquitous tourist booths, selling the usual souvenirs. The Cassettai Storici Fiorentini ...

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