Forging a Florentine Legacy

Bronzetto, an historic Florentine company is specialized in the hand-made production of high quality furnishing, accessories and lighting in brass and bronze since 1963. Simone, Pierfrancesco and their cousin Michelangelo inherit from the founder Antonio Calcinai the knowledge of materials and their processing techniques producing with creativity and high professionalism, unique and quality artisan artefacts.

Bronzetto was founded in 1963 in Florence’s historic Oltrarno neighborhood. From a small family-run workshop, it has grown into an internationally recognized brand known for high-quality creations. What has changed—and what has stayed the same—since the beginning?

We started out in the Oltrarno as a humble family workshop—and in spirit, we’ve never left. That same energy still defines us. But today, our studio is a dynamic hub of ideas, people, and projects that overlap and inspire one another.

The world around us has changed dramatically. The market today is fast, demanding, hungry for uniqueness and tailor-made solutions. We now work with architects, designers, international hotel chains, and private clients from every corner of the globe who all ask us for the same thing: something that doesn’t exist yet. And our answer is always: we’re ready.

Today, Bronzetto is led by five young and visionary partners—creatives with their feet firmly planted in the workshop. We’re a multidisciplinary team with a more complex production structure. We’ve developed a new organization that includes a technical office where Renaissance-style craftsmanship meets modern design. There, we sketch, model in 3D, scan, print, cut, and test. Our CNC machines and 3D printers help us move fast when needed—but always with a meticulous eye for detail.

What hasn’t changed? The lit flame, the skilled hands, the time it takes to do things the right way. Our love for the craft, respect for materials, and the willingness to get our hands dirty—every single day. Each piece is still made in our workshop near Porta Romana, surrounded by expert artisans, burning flames, and ancient tools.

Bronzetto offers a wide range of styles and products, from lighting fixtures to home décor. How do you keep up with international market demands while staying true to your brand’s unique identity?

We can be classic, modern—or a little unconventional when the project calls for it. Sure, our catalog is extensive. But the beauty lies in how each project is different, because every client is different. Sometimes we start with one of our models and transform it. Other times, we invent something entirely new.

That’s when the magic happens: when someone asks us for something that doesn’t exist yet.

Whether it’s a handle, a lamp, a piece of furniture, or a full custom collection for a boutique hotel, we follow one guiding principle: balance who we are with where we want to go.

You can always recognize a Bronzetto piece—even when it changes shape. There’s always that subtle touch: a proportion, a finish, an idea, a handcrafted imperfection—that says: yes, this is ours. That’s our way of being in the world: we adapt, but never lose our soul.

What are the main sources of inspiration that define Bronzetto’s creative process? How do cultural, historical, or artistic elements—as well as contemporary trends—influence your design choices?

If we had to explain where everything begins, we’d start with our ABC:

A is for Amore (Love)
For what we do. For the techniques passed down through generations. For brass that takes shape under our hands, shaped by chisels and fire, between concept and prototype. We love pushing limits, blending old and new, collaborating with schools, designers, and visionaries. We love not knowing exactly where we’re going—until we discover it together.

B is for Bellezza (Beauty)
It’s all around us: Florence, with its palazzos, its light, its history that seeps into your bones. But also in unexpected details, happy accidents that become style signatures, and projects that push us out of our comfort zone. Every time a client entrusts us with a space, we feel called to rise to the occasion. Will we be worthy of it? It’s a delicate balance between what the space demands and what we can offer.

C is for Colore (Color)
Because in the end, our material isn’t just metal—it’s light and atmosphere. Every project has its own emotional palette. Our finishes aren’t just “beautiful”—they must speak, resonate, change with the space and those who inhabit it. For us, color is identity, personality, memory. With light, we draw emotion.

That’s where our ideas come from: a beautiful, unpredictable blend of passion, beauty, material, and imagination. We’re artisans, yes—but with our minds set on the future and our hands firmly rooted in the present.