The Artisans

An exceptionally talented interior designer from Milan now based in Genova, Mara Bernardi's experience in design, decorating, and architecture informs her trademark aesthetic. Passion and dedication drive her singular lighting solutions which she enjoys creating from scratch using various materials, methods, and styles.

Combining ergonomics and elegance, Luxy has been producing iconic seating solutions since 1976. Brilliantly combining traditional craftsmanship with innovative technological methods, it is based in the Italian region of Veneto, rich in raw materials and boasting a century-old history of artisanal tradition. Conferring exceptional comfort and functionality in a refined, up-to-date style, its pieces will effortlessly complement private and contract interior decors.

A couple in art and in real life, Eleonora Francioni and Antonio Mastromarino have been crafting joint artworks for more than twenty years. The rich cultural roots of their native Pietrasanta, Tuscany inspired them to establish their workshop there to create contemporary art collections. Among their many works is the monumental sculpture of Leonardo Da Vinci presented at the 2019 “Arte per non dormire - Moti dell’anima” exhibit. Their most recent pieces are dedicated to exploring the horizons of women who seek to live their lives out of the box expressed in a Pop art style.

Founded in 2020, Ego Rug is the brainchild of Simon Ebrani, a third-generation Iranian born and raised in Milan. The sister company of SASS Projects, the brand is a leading name in the textile rug market, supported by a talented team that always seeks to utilize new technologies and explore new patterns, dyes, or forms. Tradition inspires its flawlessly hand-tufted, hand-knotted, or machine-made designs - carrying on a precious heritage the brand treasures - all the while staying at the forefront of international design trends.

What started as working on a commission basis for many Italian brands back in 1972 in Deruta (famed majolica district) evolved into a long-term project for the Datteri family when they started selling their products under their own firm Mezzaluna in 1995. As such, Mezzaluna’s trademark is the tireless commitment of in-house designers and artisans to experiment with new techniques for porcelain, wood, crystal, metal, and glass. The brand’s expansive customization options ensure that each piece is tailored to clients’ tastes and decors.

Pursuing brilliant design while staying true to traditional cabinetmaking encapsulates Domenico Cugliari’s sophisticated furniture collections. Born in 1961 with a passion for woodworking coursing through his veins, Cugliari’s namesake carpentry production house is a lodestar in Italy and internationally for its network of selected suppliers and retailers. The brand creates signed original collections every year as well as offers bespoke projects for all decor needs and tastes.

Alessandra Malfatti earned the chance to work as a ceramist and illustrator for children’s books after painting studies at the “A. Vittoria” Fine Arts School in Trento. She attended the “Istituto Selvatico” goldsmith school in Padua under the guidance of masters Graziano Visintin and Mariarosa Franzin, who instilled in her a love for blacksmithing and vitrified glazing on copper. Since 2016, she has been crafting singular pieces reflecting her artistic sensibilities. In 2022, she won NYCxDESIGN Award and participated in the renowned IMPERTINENTE exhibition in Limoges, France.

Claudio Campana opened his namesake studio in 2019 after a lengthy training path that led him to master the Scagliola technique. The technique creates a fine plaster used in architecture and sculpture whose mixture of animal glue and natural colors allows a singular and stunning reproduction of marble veinings. Campana’s magnificent works of art are distinguished by vibrant colors and a fluid blend of textures welded into rigid, geometric shapes, merging tradition and modern aesthetic sensibilities.

Painter and architect Paolo De Biasi was born in Feltre, Veneto in 1966 and currently lives and works in Treviso. Painting was a love that emerged later in life for him, his work as an associate in UP3 Studio earning him the chance to debut at the 2012 Venice Biennale. He was introduced to the “Italian Nebrow” artist circle by Ivan Quaroni after reaching the finals at the Premio Celeste. He was awarded the Paolo Parati national painting prize in 2011 and his pieces have been featured at the Prague Biennale and the Italy/China Biennale at the Monza Royal Castle.

Starting with founder Mario Frati and now in the hands of his nephew Riccardo and wife Cristiana, three generations of textile entrepreneurs have molded Frati Home into an internationally renowned brand recognized for its fabrics and textile designs. Keeping a sharp eye on trends without ever losing its distinctive artisan know-how, the brand is committed to sustainability, embracing an eco-conscious ethos in every step of the production process to guarantee only the finest, certified fabrics.

The contribution architect Leone Pecchioli and set designer Perla Gianni Falvo brought to the “Made in Sipario Social Cooperative” is captured in the Slow Tile project. Born in 2018 in Florence to create job opportunities for the disabled community while enhancing the importance of slowness when it comes to artisan pottery, the challenging aspect of dealing with the market is further fuel for the project, which embraces sustainability by avoiding surpluses. Slow Tile’s special artists see their efforts and creativity taking shape on one-of-a-kind, durable ceramic pieces.

High-end clock house, Meccaniche Orologi Milano is a collaborative workshop founded in 2016 by engineer, designer, and clockmaker Alessandro Rigotto. The embodiment of effortlessly modern, the brand’s pieces are meticulously made using high-quality materials and innovative methods while staying true to the craft’s artisan roots.

Matteo Pala’s spectacular rugs and carpets expertly balance tradition and innovation. Inspired by cultures with strong textile craftsmanship traditions such as Turkey, Nepal, India, and Morocco, Pala’s pieces interpret ancient traditions in a sleek modern key using materials carefully selected by the artists over years of research and exploration.

Passion for textiles runs in the veins of Caterina Quartana, a born-and-raised Sardinian from a family of textile designers. After graduating in Fashion Culture and Design at the University of Florence in 2003, she established her own brand marked by a synthesis of design and craftsmanship reflecting her sophisticated and meticulous personality. Her art ranges from designing and weaving fabrics to painting on textiles and pottery, all products she crafts exclusively with high-quality materials. Bespoke designs emphasize her exceptional artistic sensibilities for all decors.

A legacy established in 1830, Sahri is a historic luxury rugmaker that draws inspiration from Persian art and Tehran’s vibrant bazaars to create and source the finest quality rugs. A deep and passionate exploration of beauty passed down from generation to generation defines the family’s approach. Tradition and modernity marry in the innovative techniques and millenary materials showcased in each rug, a testament to the art of rugmaking and design in all their complexity.

Founded by designer Luca de Bona and photographer Massimiliano Tuveri, Belvedere is a luxury interior design firm that offers bespoke, artful furniture with a lavish and contemporary flair. Partnering with leading and renowned architects and designers worldwide, its collections are distinguished by an aesthetic that marries traditional crafting techniques, finishes, and prized materials with state-of-the-art technologies.

Furnishing interiors with style and originality since 1934, Valli & Valli was founded by architect and sculptor Pasquale Valli in the Brianza district near Milan. An elegant take on a simple object of functional design, the brand creates singular handles of exceptional character. In 1976, under the supervision of Pasquale’s son Carlo, Valli & Valli introduced Fusital, a collection of handles designed by forty-six iconic names in the national and international design scene. Each handle made by the brand and in collaboration is crafted with care by master artisans.

Merging classic style, modern sophistication, and functionality, NC Design Group creates singular furniture items crafted with meticulous attention to detail. The atelier boasts collections such as the Crystal Panel and the Decor Frame that reveal a timeless aesthetic achieved using artisan and innovative techniques executed by a team of master craftsmen.

Tullio Bolletta, the founder of timepiece manufacturer Lorenz, approached German designer Richard Sapper in 1959 to collaborate on a challenging project. Lorenz wanted to repurpose internal clock mechanisms made during the war for torpedoes into table clocks. After much trial and error, Sapper’s sleek design hid the bulky mechanisms in a cylindrical frame with a cut edge to sit on the table and added a clock face from a fighter jet. Known as the Lorenz Static, Sapper’s design was awarded the Compasso d’Oro in 1960. In 2017, Lorenz started producing Static table clocks once again.

Dotem is an umbrella brand founded by self-taught artist and designer Maria Mascolo in 2021. Artisan know-how passed down six generations are pivotal to the crafting process, as each umbrella is handmade of maple wood and complete with 24K gold-plated brass details sourced from Italy. The intricate decorations along the inner canopy draw inspiration from her father’s oil paintings. A quintessential symbol of British style, her umbrellas are elevated to a collector’s item and timeless piece to be treasured for generations.