Many Italians visit their local silversmith when they become engaged to be married or when they want to have their grandparents’ silver restored, knowing their beloved heirlooms stand in good hands. International travelers, on the other hand, may not think of selecting a hand-wrought bronze doorknocker or a silver candelabrum as a souvenir from Italy. Makers of fine bronze, silver, copper, and gold objects go unjustly overlooked, when the truth is that Italian metalsmiths are some of the most accomplished in the world. These masters know how to raise a simple, everyday object like a doorknob, a spoon, or a teapot to a work of timeless beauty and quality. And the subject of Italian jewelry, a special subcategory of metalworking, is so rich that it deserves attention in a separate article altogether.
Ancient origins
Metalsmiths have mined and worked bronze, silver, iron, and other metals on the Italian peninsula since ancient times. Over the course of the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance, metalworking became important to interior decoration, used to craft door locks and trims, drawer pulls, and window dressings. A visit to the Silver Museum (the Museo degli Argenti) at the Pitti Palace in Florence bears witness to the technical excellence of which Florentine metalsmiths were capable at that time. It is impossible to convey in words the intricacy, opulence, and technical mastery of metalworking represented by this fascinating private collection of the Medici family. The large holding of vases, implements, tableware, and ceremonial objects made of bronze, gold, silver, and semiprecious stones is staggering, a feast for the eyes.
Techniques
Italian metalsmithing encompasses a wide variety of techniques and refinements. Hammered metal involves using various tools to shape an ingot—a block of metal—into the desired shape. In the technique of raising, a silversmith hammers a flat sheet of silver over an iron bar to create a hollow vessel. Beyond this basic method stands a long list of specialized techniques to add handles and spouts, decorate the piece with surface effects such as repoussé or chasing, or even guild the entire surface to give an impression of solid gold.
Silver, bronze, and gold may also be cast using the lost-wax process, a technique that has remained essentially unchanged since ancient times. The lost wax process requires extensive experience with wax, pottery, and metal. The metalsmith begins with crafting a wax model that is an exact representation of the final piece including any intricate details. A layer of clay is spread over the model. When fired, the wax melts, leaving a ceramic mold that becomes a vessel for molten metal. After the metal cools, the artisan breaks the mold, revealing the metal piece beneath. This basic technique might include many refinements. For example, to create a hollow bronze object requires creating two nested ceramic pieces with a small channel between for the wax. Complex or ornate objects like chandeliers may be composed of many pieces later fused together.
Visiting metalsmiths’ workshops
Today Italy is home to many excellent metalsmithing workshops, often counting multiple generations of expertise as well as molds, patterns, tools, and prototypes passed down from parents to children. Most of these fine craftspeople are accustomed to working on commission and can design something one-of-a-kind for you, whether door handles, frames, clocks, candlesticks, and tableware. The intrinsic value of the natural materials paired with the skills involved in working them makes these masterpieces of metal among the most special of Italian craftsmanship.
Read more about Italian metalwork in my guide, Made in Italy. The free companion guide, Artisans of Italy, leads you to the best places to find authentic metalsmiths across Italy. Read on…
Have you discovered any treasures of metalwork in your travels? Drop a comment below. I love to hear your stories!
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As a former goldsmith, metal smith and enamelist it never ceased to amaze me that the basic tools and processes essentially remained the same—pliers, lost wax casting, the design of the bench, the dried glass for enameling. The only truly new thing would be an ultrasonic cleaner which I know they would have treasured. When I go to museums and look at the big silver soup tureens and other high end household items, I like to think through the processes that were used. I loved Benvenuto Cellini’s autobiography. He described a situation similar to what I’d seen in the trade shop. His customer came in wanting a piece of jewelry made by the next day. He refused, but when the customer offered lot more money he agreed and directed his apprentice.to start. The difference was we charged a lot up front to begin with—how badly did the customer want it? I’m now a painter and appreciated The Painter’s Apprentice, particularly making the paint and the apprehension about introduction of canvas for painting. I reading The Gondola Maker next and look forward to future historical art fiction from you!
Thank you so much, Kate, for sharing your experience! –Laura
I have a large copper mantle piece I acquired from a friend from Belgium. It is signed gironi. Do you know who I can contact to find out more about the piece? Trying to find the value and actual artist info. Appreciate any help and direction.
Hi Cheryl,
Thanks for your question! It sounds like you have a special piece. I’d love to see a picture! You might try to have the work examined by an appraiser certified by the American Society of Appraisers (appraisers.org) or the International Society of Appraisers (isa-appraisers.org). Good luck and let me know what you find out! –Laura
I have a incredible light for my wall, it starts at the bottom as a bulb then 5 hollow tubes that each turn into separate blossums which has a light in them.
The wire for each light was very thin and had paper around the light fitting and it had to be replaced to work. I would love to send you a picture. We
found a piece of metal wrapped around a piece of the stem that had a metal snap and we opened it very gently and it said Made in Italy. I am going to take the little piece to a jewelry place to tell me what kind of metal it may be since it looks like faded gold, I don’t know what it is but no matter its just beautiful and I
plan on using it no matter. It might just be metal or bronze or ?? But someone took serious time in making this! Thanks Vickie