The Artisans

A real treasure in the world of lighting, Contardi has recently been at the forefront of the contemporary scene thanks to its innovative and luxurious designs. Based in Cesano Maderno, in the Brianza geographical and cultural area renowned for the art of craftsmanship, it creates stylish lighting solutions for both residential and contract projects, including custom-made designs for the hospitality sector. Merging aesthetic and functionality, Contardi’s collections boast a variety of high-quality materials and elegant finishes combined with the newest LED technologies.

Founded in 2008 by Patrizia Furnari and Fabio Fazio, Lithea has its roots firmly buried in the Sicilian land. Inspired by their passion for design and architecture, both architects, they created an innovative concept where the beauty of stone materials intertwines with artisanal mastery. In a blend of tradition and modernity, LITHEA explores new frontiers through cutting-edge production systems and advanced technologies, embarking on a journey of research and experimentation that continues to evolve.

In 1993, Claudia Frignani and her brother founded Wunderkammer Studio, where she designs and produces unique pieces and limited series, with particular attention to materials, shapes and techniques. In recent years Claudia has focused her creativity on pottery, creating exclusive one-of-a-kind pieces using the ancient technique of “colombino,” a coil-building technique completely made by hand. Once finished, the artifact is left to dry slowly, and undergoes a double-firing process in a furnace at a temperature of more than 1000°C.

Since its inception, Adrenalina has boldly embraced a precise objective: to challenge conventions by creating design seating that seems to come from the future, inspiring dreams and worlds yet to be explored. Adrenalina has grown by offering unusual armchairs, sofas, ottomans and modular systems, daring with enthusiasm from all points of view: conceptual, stylistic and communicative, furnishing public and private spaces. Adrenalina has collaborated with Italian and foreign designers over the years. Since 2022, the artistic direction has been entrusted to Debonademeo Studio and the rebranding in 2023 reconfirms the move beyond the more iconic phase towards an era of grace and elegance and placing the seating object at the center of a dialogue with the contemporary human being, immersed in fluid and transversal environments.

Christina Link worked in a renowned haute couture studio in Munich, Germany, before moving to Italy. She now lives and works in Tuscany where she handcrafts artistic home accessories, such as blankets and throws, using the finest velvet, cashmere, alpaca, wool, tweed, silk, and leather. All the pieces she creates are one-of-a-kind, handmade objects and boast unique combinations of colors and shapes. Her designs are timeless and elegant, crafted using traditional tailoring techniques to enhance the look of any home.

Born in 1981 in Grottaglie (a small town in Apulia), for centuries considered the site of a flourishing artisanal ceramic production due to the richness of the clay typical of the region, del Monaco grew up surrounded by ceramic art and sculptures in his five-generation family workshop. After studying artistic ceramics at the Art School in Grottaglie, he graduated with a degree in Architecture. He currently lives in Grottaglie, where he works on his collection of artistic ceramics, focused on the handcrafted tradition with an eye to the future.

Simona was born in Como and studied at the Accademia di Belle Arti, specializing in interior design. She started working in television as a set designer for events such as the Venice Film Festival and the Cannes Film Festival. She also collaborated as an image consultant with furniture and design companies, while still being a set designer for trade shows and other events. She currently works as an interior designer for restaurants, hotels, and private homes and as a product designer, creating contemporary ceramic pieces of functional decor.

Lamberti Design was established in the 1970s in Cava de’ Tirreni, on the Amalfi Coast, as a small metalworking workshop making steel doors, window frames, and balusters. Through creative collaborations with architects and interior designers, it soon became known for its high-quality, handcrafted metal products. Specialized in all types of metals (stainless steel, corten, iron, brass, copper, and aluminum), dedicated artisans masterfully execute all designs with each production stage, from polishing and welding to applying custom-made finishes.

Master marble cutter Bruno Scandola was born in Verona. He founded Scandola Marmi in 1964, a company that now boasts over fifty years of experience in crafting hand-selected marbles and granites using ancient techniques to create exquisite household and lifestyle accessories. These collections feature objects of functional décor with unique shapes and textures to add a contemporary flair to any home and fill it with one-of-a-kind pieces that are both functional and eye-catching.

Meroni and Colzani started out as two separate businesses specialized in furniture and upholstery since the ‘60s. As two third generation, family-run companies operating in the cabinet making district of Brianza near Milan, they eventually merged to unite their tradition and sartorial expertise into one brand. Meroni & Colzani use the finest wood, leather, and fabric coupled with the latest technologies to produce sophisticated modern pieces for the home.

Established in 1959, Illulian is a well-established luxury design brand renowned internationally for its commitment to craftsmanship. Currently, under the direction of Davis and Bendis Ronchetti Illulian, this family-run company creates works of art with a distinct heirloom quality. Their prestigious showroom, located in the heart of Milan’s fashionable “quadrilatero” district, has unique modern objects and examples of the in-house design studio pieces on display, rendered in full detail and customizable thanks to Ilullian’s team of skilled artisans.

Established in Florence, Casa della Cornice creates exquisite frames by mixing old Florentine manufacturing traditions with constant research and pursuit of innovation. Marco and Giovanni Pelacani are the second and third generation of a family that started this business in 1969 and since then has refined its expertise in woodcarving and in gilding objects using the centuries-old method of gouache. Casa della Cornice’s two workshops in Florence craft magical objects that are timeless and sophisticated.

Marco Dimai Lustro and Roberto Zambelli Nichelo created this brand from their shared passion for wood and the Dolomites mountains. The furnishings designed by Woodart Cortina are made of precious and ancient wood that is a carefully selected and handcrafted with passion by skilled artisans. The bond with the territory, particularly the Dolomites, and the respect for nature and its surroundings are at the heart of these unconventional designs: unique pieces of furniture and home décor inspired by the desire to give new shape to everyday life objects.

Paola Speranza graduated in Architecture at Politecnico, in Milan. She has been working with design studios as well as independently, dealing with restoration, building renovation and interior design. She collaborates with her family business of marble processing and restoration, Fratelli Speranza. In 2016, she started designing her own collection of marble objects and she created Espidesign. All the pieces in this series are one-of-a-kind, handmade objects crafted in a workshop outside Pavia; their design is minimalist and bold, for a contemporary, elegant table.

Born and raised in Varazze, Liguria, Simone Fanciullacci moved to Milan to pursue product design at the Politecnico University, making it his permanent home in 2008. After almost 10 years working in design studios, he founded an art consulting firm in 2017 and currently curates Edizione Limitata (“Limited Edition”), a collection that keeps traditional Italian craftsmanship alive with bold, functional objects perfect for modern homes. He received numerous accolades for his collaborations, notably the IF Design Award and a special mention for the prized Compasso d’Oro Award.

After graduating in architecture, Michelangelo Serena dedicated himself to the innovative potential of the prestigious filigree technique, invented by his ancestors in the XVI century in Murano. With this idea in mind, and the desire to create a new dimension of Italian excellence, he founded Serena Luxury Mosaic in 2015, whose collections combine for the first time Murano mouth-blown glass, gold foil, and artistic mosaic. Today he designs, crafts, and exhibits his unique lamps and art pieces for home décor in museums, luxury hotels, and international fairs.

Oriana Capitani lives and works in Jesi, a city in the region of Marche, known since the end of the 19th century for its entrepreneurial and industrious spirit. After a long experience restoring art, she started creating and crafting exquisite frames according to traditional techniques and using old materials. Her meticulous work results from mastering the centuries-old practice of gilding and produces pieces that recreate classic silhouettes, with a particular attention to details.

In 1955, Paolo Maselli opened his first shop of antique prints and handcrafted frames in Florence. His son Gabriele studied gilding and frame restoration at the Institute for Arts and Restoration Palazzo Spinelli and in 1979 took over the business. After 60 years, Bottega d’Arte Maselli still guarantees impeccable quality and meticulous attention to detail for all its handcrafted creations, that are decorated using centuries-old techniques such as gilding “a guazzo”, silver plating, and color finishing.

With fiftyeight years of experience, Budri is a worldwide leader in artistic italian marble inlay. The unparalleled experience at the international level in the execution of major customized projects as private villas, fashion brand boutiques, hotels and prestigious buildings, together with inspiration and interpretation skills have contributed to establish Budri’s strong reputation as “Maestro dell’Intarsio”. Budri presents here the awarded Design Collections designed by Patricia Urquiola that were exhibited at Triennale Milano, Art Basel and the Philadephia Museum.

In 1963, Francesco De Maio established his workshop of handcrafted ceramics, hoping to keep alive the artistic heritage of Vietri sul Mare, a small town on the Amalfi Coast. His artistic tile-making craftsmanship is widely praised, particularly for his "riggiole" tiles used for churches' floors and dwellings of noblemen. De Maio reinterprets the family tradition by designing collections that align with new tastes and trends. His handmade ceramic tiles are decorated with classical motifs, using traditional enamels that add an exclusive finish to his pieces.