Florence Artisans | National Geographic

the workshops are hidden throughout the

the workshops are hidden throughout the narrow streets of Oltrarno

narrow streets of Oltrarno

narrow streets of Oltrarno artisans ply trays learn not in schools

artisans ply trays learn not in schools

artisans ply trays learn not in schools but through apprenticeships and years of

but through apprenticeships and years of

but through apprenticeships and years of experience silversmith Donato sacado has

experience silversmith Donato sacado has

experience silversmith Donato sacado has been creating silver furnishings and

been creating silver furnishings and

been creating silver furnishings and tableware for over three decades one of

tableware for over three decades one of

tableware for over three decades one of his prized objects is a sterling silver

his prized objects is a sterling silver

his prized objects is a sterling silver vase it’s made from three disks the

vase it’s made from three disks the

vase it’s made from three disks the disks are molded into three pieces like

disks are molded into three pieces like

disks are molded into three pieces like a puzzle the precision is very important

a puzzle the precision is very important

a puzzle the precision is very important here because they have to be absolutely

here because they have to be absolutely

here because they have to be absolutely identical so if one piece becomes

identical so if one piece becomes

identical so if one piece becomes slightly different than the other then

slightly different than the other then

slightly different than the other then it has to be scrapped then so Carl’s

it has to be scrapped then so Carl’s

it has to be scrapped then so Carl’s assistant soldered the pieces together

assistant soldered the pieces together

assistant soldered the pieces together joint is invisible just a few blocks

joint is invisible just a few blocks

joint is invisible just a few blocks away

away

away artisans prepare marble inlay tabletop

artisans prepare marble inlay tabletop

artisans prepare marble inlay tabletop each piece has been hand cut and fit

each piece has been hand cut and fit

each piece has been hand cut and fit within a larger piece a coating has been

within a larger piece a coating has been

within a larger piece a coating has been applied to even out the many joints and

applied to even out the many joints and

applied to even out the many joints and then it’s buffed to an even finish

then it’s buffed to an even finish

then it’s buffed to an even finish marble inlay was perfected by

marble inlay was perfected by

marble inlay was perfected by Florentines around the end of the 16th

Florentines around the end of the 16th

Florentines around the end of the 16th century inlay artisans can be found

century inlay artisans can be found

century inlay artisans can be found around the world today but it’s

around the world today but it’s

around the world today but it’s Florentine work that’s found in palaces

Florentine work that’s found in palaces

Florentine work that’s found in palaces across Europe gifts over the centuries

across Europe gifts over the centuries

across Europe gifts over the centuries from Grand Dukes of the Medici family

from Grand Dukes of the Medici family

from Grand Dukes of the Medici family in the same building this man paints in

in the same building this man paints in

in the same building this man paints in what’s known as golly Ola imitation

what’s known as golly Ola imitation

what’s known as golly Ola imitation marble the technique was perfected in

marble the technique was perfected in

marble the technique was perfected in Italy in the 17th century it’s most

Italy in the 17th century it’s most

Italy in the 17th century it’s most often painted on plaster originally

often painted on plaster originally

often painted on plaster originally intended as a cheap substitute for

intended as a cheap substitute for

intended as a cheap substitute for marble it’s now considered an art form

marble it’s now considered an art form

marble it’s now considered an art form in itself and so it has gone all the way

in itself and so it has gone all the way

in itself and so it has gone all the way back to the Renaissance sunup to sundown

back to the Renaissance sunup to sundown

back to the Renaissance sunup to sundown every day there is art in the alleyways

every day there is art in the alleyways

every day there is art in the alleyways of Oltrarno