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Click on the items below to learn more about our products:
Another of our marvelous discoveries was these beautiful gem-toned enamel, pillboxes. We found them featured in a family run store on the banks of the Arno River. There is a four-step process in the creation of these beautiful boxes. The first step is the choice of the shape of the box. The second is the creation of the enamel hue. The third is the dipping of the box into 18-Kt. gold and the final step is the intricate metal carving. The origin of these treasures goes back to the building of the Church of San Lorenzo and its chapel used by the Medici family. The story states that as the foundation of the church was being dug the workers unearthed a beautiful Roman villa. One of the rooms in this villa contained numerous semi-precious stones. The Florentines had never before seen such rich colors! The Medici family requested that their goldsmiths use these semi-precious stones to create stunning gifts. It was from this tradition that these enamel and gold boxes evolved. We are certain that you will love them!! We are currently carrying four different shapes: an oval, square, rectangle and "fancy". The colors are: topaz, lavender, green and cobalt. Each can be purchased in the assorted colors and various shapes. About the Wood TraysFlorence especially boasts a wealth of highly skilled artisans who pursue the Old World tradition of handcrafted gifts. One of these highly specialized arts is known as "Legno d’Orato" or the art of carving wood trays and applying gold gilt and gold leaf.
These exquisite creations span the centuries, and are as diverse in their geometric patterns and intricately carved shapes, as in their lustrous gem tones. All of the Florentine wood trays that we presently offer are created and decorated in the same motifs that have their origin in the Renaissance over five hundred years ago! You will still see a few woodworking shops continuing this centuries old art. Most of them are found in the narrow back streets of Florence that run parallel to the Arno River. It is here that our good fortune led us to find one of the premier "Legno d’Orato" artisans, Renzo. He began his training as a ten year old in the countryside of Florence. Under numerous masters he learned the art of woodcarving, applying gold leaf, and vase painting. He is one of the few experts left in Florence practicing the art of "Legno d’Orato". Currently we are carrying three different sized trays: the medium and the large rectangular, and the round. The medium rectangular has three different colored motifs: gold and blue, gold and ivory, and gold with red and black. The large rectangular is gold and red. The round tray is gold, green and red. The choice is yours!! About the Ceramic Curio BoxesOur present collection of curio boxes is made from two different materials: gold leaf wood, and ceramic. Each style can trace its roots back to the Renaissance. The ceramic curio boxes also were developed during the Renaissance. Between the years 1440 and 1540 portraiture of the rich and noble became popular. The profile poses were most prevalent, and symbolized rectitude and moral strength, as well as, emblems of honor. Typical physical characteristics that were sure signs of a virtuous person were: a wide forehead, an arched brow, creamy white skin and golden curls. The two colors used were blue and white. The color white represented chastity. It was the single most important attribute for aristocratic ladies. Deep cobalt blue was used to show a union with nature. The technique that is used to create the pattern is called "decoro a puntini". The rich textures of the extravagant costumes and jewel-encrusted gowns reflected an opulence that denoted the Florentine family’s wealth. All of the profile poses are reproduced from the faces found in famous paintings from the Renaissance period. At present we feature two round shapes: one deep and one shallow. We offer a wide variety of profiles. Please let us choose! You may specify male or female. Both styles of curio boxes can be used to hold a string of pearls, cuff links or a collection of old coins!! About the Wood Curio Boxes
The art of gold gilding has been handed down from that time to present, and is still produced with the same techniques in Florence. These burnished, 24-kt. gold leaf boxes are enhanced by intricately hand carved patterns. Each is adorned with a reproduction of a classic painting on its cover such as Sandro Botticelli’s “La Primavera” and “The Birth of Venus,” Antonio Canova’s “The Dancers,” or Gozzolli’s “The Procession of the Magi.” At present we offer three small square wood curio boxes, and two large rectangle wood curio boxes. The small square boxes are 4in. x 4in., and the large rectangle boxes are 4in. x 6in. We will continue to add to this marvelous collection. All of the boxes are lined in velvet. They make fabulous jewelry boxes!! About the Kitchen CeramicsDECORATIVE SERVING PIECES
We are so very fortunate to have discovered a young and uniquely talented artist on our most recent trip to Italy. She specializes in decorative ceramic plates and bowls made in the Montelupo Fiorentino style. These beautiful creations can easily be used for everyday use! While trained in the Old World methods by some of Italy’s modern masters her personal style of decoration continues to evolve marrying the traditional with the modern. Her works are truly unique! Under the shade of San Gimignano’s Towers and surrounded by an ancient atmosphere that sets the soul and imagination free our artist finds her inspiration to create these beautiful treasures. Each piece is hand made and hand painted and signed by the artist. Several of the pieces were made exclusively for Arte d’Italia Fine Italian Gifts. Our present collection includes two hexagonal plates with fruit motifs in a more modern design, and two round bowls in the more traditional design. Of course each plate is made with lead free paint. They make for the perfect housewarming or wedding gift! BLUE DAISY
Our second collection is from Impruneta, a small town located in the hills approximately 7 kilometers from Florence that is world famous for its high quality ceramics. We found our artist working in his shop near the Medici Chapel. A shop that has been in the family for over 100 years! The Blue Daisy pattern that we carry was first designed in the late 1600’s. It has been lovingly recreated using the “incising” or engraving technique. This intricate pattern covers the entire surface of each piece and enhances the intensity of the deep cobalt blue color. The colors are dazzling! At present, this Blue Daisy collection consists of an oil, vinegar, salt & pepper set, an oversize butter/cheese holder, and a grated parmesan/sugar bowl. Each piece is hand made and hand painted. We will continue to add to this remarkable collection on an on-going basis. All of our ceramics are lead free and most can be purchased as a set or individually. They make a wonderful house warming or wedding gift!! GRAPE CLUSTER
The history of ceramic making in Tuscany dates back to the classical age of the Etruscan Empire. For over 2,000 years this tradition has been carried forward from one generation to another. It was during the Renaissance that this age old art was reborn. Today’s craftsmen not only continue this antique process (the use of the potter’s wheel to create the form, the use of casts, glazing and hand painting), but also enjoy mixing patterns, shapes and colors from different time periods. This allows the artists to be fresh and creative! Two of Tuscany’s most famous areas for creating ceramics are Impruneta and Montelupo. We are honored to offer some of their best! The Montelupo Fiorentino style that is featured here is most unique. Our Grape Cluster series is made from the very old “graffito” technique. This means that while the clay is still fresh the artist engraves the individual form before it is brought to the kiln. After the firing of the form it is hand painted. The effect is that the patterns seem deeper and colors stronger. We have expanded this highly successful line of our Montelupo Grape Cluster series. In addition to the items we carry at present (the small & large pitchers, the medium sized bowl and the olive oil decanter with pour spout) we now offer a large, oval serving platter, a smaller sized bowl and a smaller sized decanter that is perfect for the table! These complimentary pieces round out this richly patterned set. As usual, all of our ceramics are lead free! They can be purchased separately or as a set, and make for a truly unique anniversary or wedding gift. About the StemwareThe key date in the history of glass making in Italy is 1291. This is the year when all of the glassmakers’ furnaces were moved out of the city of Venice and onto the island of Murano. This was mainly to limit the risk of fire.
The great renaissance of Murano glass began in 1450 with the invention of crystal. Their glass then rapidly became world famous. The skills of these island artisans fortunately continue today! It is an incredible achievement that many of these venerable families still actively produce these beautiful pieces. We are very fortunate to have discovered this current collection that marries Murano’s crystal making to Florence’s detailed gold work. A truly remarkable find! The collection presently includes:
PAIRED CHAMPAGNE FLUTES WITH TRAY Arte d’Italia Fine Italian Gifts now offers its best selling Murano stemware in matched sets. The two complimentary pastel hued champagne flutes are paired together with one of our beautiful wood trays. Each flute and tray is handmade and trimmed with a 24-Kt. Florentine gold swag pattern. Please see our Wood Trays sections for more details on these beautiful trays. The matched pairs are as follows:
A free package of our Romeo & Juliet stationery is included for sending love notes or for romantic requests! Please see our Stationery section to learn more about this beautiful gift! These paired champagne flutes make for the perfect wedding, anniversary or New Year’s Eve gift! The supply is limited, so please get your order in today!! THE ULTIMATE BREAKFAST IN BED SET Arte d’Italia Fine Italian Gifts now offers a most romantic and stunning keepsake that will make breakfast in bed a memorable event! This beautiful gift set includes the complimentary pairing of two Murano champagne flutes with two matching fruit cups/dessert bowls. Each flute and bowl is handmade and trimmed with a 24-Kt. Florentine gold swag pattern. The two pairs of complimentary pastel hued stemware are then matched with one of our hand carved wood trays made with 24-Kt. gold leaf to create a most spectacular setting. The pairings are as follows:
A free package of our Romeo & Juliet stationery is included for sending love notes or for romantic requests. Please see our Stationery section for more details on this beautiful gift. And, please visit our Wood Trays sections to learn more about these remarkable treasures! These paired champagne flutes & dessert bowls make for the ideal wedding, anniversary or romantic gift. The supply is limited so please get your order in today! SIX PIECE BOXED SETS This is Arte d’Italia Fine Italian Gifts’ flagship product! We have sold more of this beautiful handmade stemware than any other product on our web site!! The present collection includes:
Nestled in a cozy little side street off of the Piazza Pitti we found this small gem of a store selling some of the most beautiful kitchen towels we have ever seen! We had to make them part of Arte d’Italia’s inventory of fine Italian gifts!! Our remarkable 100% cotton towels are made on a jacquard loom. This means that the colors and design are woven into the towel not printed! These towels are manufactured by a family-owned business. They have been making these beautiful linen and cotton fabrics for over 150 years. These towels can be ordered in one of four colors: gold, green, red or blue. And, are packaged in a set of three distinctive motifs: Tuscan Countryside, Vino and Olio. These towels are oversized at 24" wide by 32" long. Please be aware that there will be some shrinkage after the first washing! Enjoy your towels!!
CERAMIC CURIO BOXES • WOOD CURIO BOXES • WOOD TRAYS • MURANO STEMWARE • ENAMEL BOXES HANDMADE CERAMICS • KITCHEN TOWELS • STATIONERY
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The technique of laying burnished gold leaf onto prepared wood surfaces was developed in Medieval Florence. Its opulent ornamentation was inspired by the churches of the day, and was initially used in religious picture frames. It was during the Renaissance that this style became secularized and used in the making of decorative wood boxes.
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