|
|
What is Capodimonte? Why is Murano glassware so valuable? Who were the two famous Italian sculptors – Sabadin and Santini? Why is Sorrento Furniture held is such high esteem? The answers to these questions and more can be found below in our Italian product history. |
|
|
Capodimonte:
 |
Capodimonte porcelain is the finest and most perfect grade of Italian artistic pottery. It is one of the most appreciated handicrafts for its craftsmanship and detailed qualities. The name Capodimonte (Top of the hill) comes from Naples. Capodimonte Art today still stands out as one of the most beautiful examples of Italian pottery. |
|
|
Murano Glassware:
|
Murano is a very small island, only a few square miles in size, and is a member of the Venetian lagoon renowned for its artistic glassware. Its location is North West of Venice, Italy. Its history and success is bound to glassware manufacturing and the name Murano itself is synonymous with glass manufacturing. Murano, with its craftsman masters, contributed to make glass from simple sand to one of the highest artistic expressions to-date. The glassware art from Murano became the exclusive activity of its people and has been handed down from father to son ever since. Murano is one of the oldest areas still active in the art of decorative glass manufacturing. Murano's glassware consists of precious artistic objects wanted by collectors all over the world maintaining an unaltered beauty, originality, and elite value. |
|
|
Inlaid Furniture:
 |
The raw material used is a variety of African exotic such as walnut, birch, mahogany and brier woods, while the inlay is accomplished by layering and sandwiching together various sheets of woods and different colors of veneer. The sheets are fastened at four corners and a design sketched on thin paper is then placed on top of the layering. The craftsmen use a jigsaw to follow the paper design, cutting out the veneer piece by piece. The veneer is then removed from the saw and placed in a container. Sections of veneer that need a shadowing effect are then placed in a hot sand bath for 10 or so seconds and are reassembled interchanging the different colors of wood. A special glue is applied and the design is transferred onto a specially treated sheet of paper to dry. This sheet is then glued to the top of the item, sanded, and finished. A gloss is finally applied and a timeless heirloom is ready to be treasured forever – beautifully hand-crafted Sorrento Inlay Furniture. |
|
|
Vittorio Sabadin:
 |
The artist Vittorio Sabadin was born in the northern Italian village of Bassano del Grappa in 1952. Inspired by the works of classical Italian masters, Sabadin spent his life exploring and developing his own artistry through sculpture. For Sabadin, the artistic process begins with inspiration communicated through life experiences. The artist’s inspiration came from his varied life experiences. In 1975 Vittorio Sabadin started his own company to produce and maintain control over the entire process of creating his beautiful porcelain creations. |
|
|
Amilcare Santini:
 |
Amilcare Santini was born in 1910 near the city of Florence in Tuscany. At the age of twelve he became an apprentice to the sculptor Colombini. He traveled to Florence and attended the university for four years where he assisted in developing the process of combining marble, alabaster and resin. The material is then poured into rubber molds, made by Santini, and then, after it hardens at room temperature, the figure is taken out and completely finished by hand. Amilcare Santini passed away in 1975 and now his son Nedo and grandson Alberto are the third generation of the Santini family carrying on the tradition of producing these beautiful statues. He is known for his intricate depictions of beautiful ladies that can be viewed in our Santini Collection. |
|
| |
|
|
|
