The goldsmith art of Arezzo and Central Italy.
[su_highlight background="#A26741" color="#FFFFFF"]HANDICRAFT[/su_highlight] The Arezzo Gold District is the most famous in this area, but there are other top locations in the gold and silverware field that deserve to be praised.
Illustrazione di Simone Massoni
by Roberta Vanore
In Central Italy, intense gold and jewellery manufacturing is concentrated in Tuscany - 10,000 workers and 1,616 brands - in the Districts of Arezzo and Florence. The District of Arezzo, famous for its unique items of high quality craftsmanship and international OroArezzo trade fair, boasts a tradition that dates back to the Etruscan age, from which the 'granulation' technique derives. The art of filigree, however, drew on the Middle Eastern and Greek goldsmiths while, in the Middle Ages, Arezzo submitted to Byzantine and Barbarian influence. In the XIV century, the first workshops were established with work commissioned by the nobility and the Papacy. Nowadays, 2,045 companies work in the sector with 8,903 workers and an export value of 1,757 million Euros (Istat 2012 data).Florentine goldsmith art dates back to the Middle Ages and was linked to the grand-ducal court and religious gold-work for the Church. In 2012, the world's very first and only School of Sacred Art was established. Gold has played an important role in the economy of the Tuscan capital: in fact, in 1952, a prestigious coin, the 'golden florin', was forged. In Lazio, the centuries-old tradition in Rome of making religious figures in gold was linked to the Papal court. Nowadays, the capital city's gold industry is feeling the effect of fashion. In the province of Latina, the art of jewellery-making has been meeting the needs of imperial magnificence for centuries, making jewellery a symbol of power.
A characteristic of goldsmith art in the Marche region is "bridal jewellery", like coral pendants and 'Parisian' silver wedding earrings. In 2007, about one thousand small and medium-sized companies were operating in the Marche. The province of Ancona, famous for its sacred vestments, boasts the greatest number of companies (270); next comes Macerata (260), known for its sacred gold-work; Ascoli Piceno (236); Urbino (191), whose precious manufacture resulted in the splendour of the Court of Urbino; Pesaro, Jesi and Loreto, with the production of devotional objects. The goldsmith art in Abruzzo (L’Aquila, Teramo and the surrounding area) derives from the ancient school of Sulmona, the producer of archaic crosses. In Emilia-Romagna, however, it is the gold production of Faenza and Bologna that stands out which, since the late Gothic era, has been a means of affirming political and religious power.
Arezzo UnoAErre, www.unoaerre.it Is the largest producer in the Italian gold and jewellery sector and one of the biggest in the world. Moreover, in Italy, it's the leading trademark in the wedding band market representing over 70% of the production of this type of jewellery.
Bagno a Ripoli, Firenze Annamaria Cammilli Gioielli, annamariacammilli.com This brand from Florence displays jewellery with a unique and unmistakable style in the international store windows.
Roma Balistreri Gioielli d’Arte, www.balistrerigioielli.it High jewellery, hand-made creations which merge exclusive design, the selection of quality stones and manufacturing perfection.
Frosinone Boccadamo, www.boccadamo.com
Boccadamo has been successfully operating on the national and international gold and silverware scene for years. The company from Frosinone is synonymous of quality and Made in Italy style.
Roma Casato Roma, www.casatogioielli.com
Refined design in the name of elegance, glamour and femininity, Casato takes its inspiration from the sensuality of woman, an icon of grace and beauty.
Rosato Gioielli
Badia al Pino, Arezzo Chimet. Refining and Fine Chemicals, www.chimet.com
Chimet - an acronym of Chimica Metallurgica Toscana - is an Arezzo company, world leader in the retrieval and refining of precious metals.
Roma D’Afosa, www.davossagioielli.it
The artistic jewellery items from D’Avossa are unrepeatable and unique creations that represent the elegant world of Italian high jewellery.
Arezzo Falcinelly Italy, www.falcinelliitaly.it
Since 1968, in the heart of Tuscany, Falcinelli Italy has been the uncontested queen of taste, elegance and beauty. The timeless quality of its creations can be found in the best jeweller's worldwide.
Firenze Fratelli Piccini Gioiellieri, www.fratellipiccini.it
A century-long inheritance handed down from generation to generation, faithful to a personal, inimitable and always avant-garde style.
Pieve al Toppo, AR Giovanni Raspini, www.giovanniraspini.com
Being destined to beauty makes the hand-crafted creations of Giovanni Raspini unique. Luxury made by hand in the heart of Tuscany by a brand that, for almost fifty years, has been in search of excellence.
Arezzo Graziella Group, www.gruppograziella.it
The company was founded in 1958 by Graziella Buoncompagni, who, at a very early age, began to make jewellery in gold featuring a personal and innovative style.
Arezzo Lorenzo Ungari, lorenzoungarishop.com
Lorenzo Ungari devised gold that shines more than diamonds. This process, carried out manually by master craftsmen, donates every item an exceptional light that never changes over time.
Roma Massimo Palmiero Calix, calixdimassimopalmiero.com
The exclusive jewellery by Massimo Palmiero is unique, refined and trendy. Created in Rome, it travels the world with its unmistakable style and purity of stones. Calix high jewellery has been enhancing the personalities of women for over thirty years, meeting the needs of the most demanding customers.
Marciano della Chiana, AR NeoNero / PVZ, www.neonero.it
When lace is made of gold. Founded in 1989, P.V.Z. created the NeoNero brand which takes inspiration from the ancient art of lace-making, thus creating the "Pizzo d’Oro" collections.
Firenze Novecentonovantanove, novecentonovantanove.com
With an experience that has long roots in the Florentine tradition, this brand creates surprising jewellery with gold and enamel, a marriage between the preciousness of metal and the vivacity of colour.
Civitella in Valdichiana, AR Prestige · 272 AR, www.prestige272ar.it
Prestige is a company whose history and topicality merge to unite ancient Etruscan art and innovation in the most avant-garde of Arezzo gold and jewellery production.
Foiano Della Chiana, AR Roberto Gallorini, robertogallorinigioielli.it
Since 1991, the jeweller's, Roberto Gallorini, has been creating hand-crafted jewellery with diamonds and precious stones.
Montegiorgio, Fermo Rosato Gioielli, www.rosato.it
A symbol of Italian style, Rosato combines goldsmith art with design and creativity, creating tiny masterpieces, treasure chests of emotions where the past comes back to life in a modern and creative key.
History Case Graziella Group via Ernesto Rossi, 9 Arezzo (Ar) - Italy, www.gruppograziella.it
The company was born into the world of gold jewellery and has now made a name for itself in the luxury world via the expansion of the brand to include leather goods and to accessories.
Graziella Group Spa, owner of the ‘Graziella’ brand, is a fashion company, founded in 1958 and based in Arezzo. It was the brainchild of Graziella Buoncompagni, the current Honourary President, who at a very tender age, began
Graziella Luxury
creating gold jewellery, characterised by a personal, innovative style, in a small workshop. As well as producing jewellery and accessories and successfully exporting them, the group has diversified its business and is now involved in sustainable energy, hospitality, construction and development. All these different business activities have something in common: extremely high quality. According to Graziella’s philosophy everything which comes under this brand and offered to the market must be a jewel in its own way.
History Case Emilio Pucci Palazzo Pucci - via de' Pucci, 6, Firenze (Fi) - Italy emiliopucci.com
Born in 1914 of one of Florence’s oldest noble families, Emilio Pucci became famous for his visionary and innovative fashion, today the maison is a symbol of the concept of “Made in Italy”.
Emilio Pucci
The maison was founded in 1947 by Emilio Pucci, Marchese di Barsento, also known as ‘The Prince of Prints’ thanks to his iconic designs. In 1990 his daughter Laudomia took control of the family company and in April 2000 forged an alliance with the LVMH group. In 2008 Peter Dundas became Creative Director, continuing and innovating the tradition of Italian craftsmanship, luxury, colour and design. As well as quality, great emphasis is placed on the craftsmanship and savoir faire of young talent. Palazzo Pucci in Florence, built between 1528 and 1534, has always been home to the Pucci family as well as headquarters for the brand, while production takes place in Bologna, the footwear is made in Veneto and the scarves in the Como area, not forgetting accessories such as eyewear and leather goods, as well as fragrances.
Focus L'Andana Località Badiola, Castiglione della Pescaia (Grosseto) T +39 0564944950, www.andana.it
A surprise to experience. The sweetness and fragrances of the Tuscan countryside and a natural park intermingle with the scent of the sea for an unforgettable stay.
L'Andana
Once a summer residence, surrounded by olive groves and vineyards, a luxury resort in the heart of the Tuscan Maremma region, idealised by award-winning chef Alain Ducasse and the Moretti family: L'Andana, which takes its name from its long driveway, lined with cypress trees and cluster pines, is located within the 500 hectares of the Tenuta La Badiola wine estate (Castiglion della Pescaia, GR). Everything is engulfed in an enchanted, dreamy and magical atmosphere within a totally intact Nature Reserve where the fragrances of the Tuscan countryside merge with the briny scents of the Tyrrhenian Sea. L’Andana, with its Gourmand Spa, Trattoria Toscana, golf course and romantic private chapel, also stands out for its Michelin star-awarded restaurant, 33 luxury, spacious and elegantly furnished rooms and suites that overlook the countryside, all equipped with TV, DVD and free Wi-Fi, its spa with exclusive wellness services, including a Jacuzzi and steam bath, and indoor and open-air swimming pools. Guests can also play tennis and improve their swing on the driving range as well as go horse-riding, trekking and bird-watching.
