The Artisans

Luca Polato founded his namesake atelier Luca Polato Design in 1999 after years of experience in antiquing. The atelier specializes in curated collections of antique, vintage, and modern one-off interior furnishings, paintings, light fixtures, and garden furniture. In 2015, Polato launched his own line of furniture and decor accessories embodying a distinctive Art Deco style. The showroom is located in Solesino, Padova and the brand is a fixture at the International Fair and the Mercante in Fiera exhibitions every year to showcase its collectible items.

Arnaboldi Interiors has been in the furnishing business since its founding in 1930, back when it was a small artisan workshop in Cantù, Lombardy. For more than three generations, Arnaboldi creates and develops exceptional interior decor for luxury homes and hotels in urban centers or mountain landscapes. Renowned for its luxurious allure and attention to details, Arnaboldi Interiors interweaves bygone artisan skills with creativity and originality.

Based in Carrara in the Apuan Alps known for their quarries, MMairo specializes in marble furniture and accent pieces with an elegant minimalist character handcrafted by skilled local artisans. Founded in 2016, the brand derives its name from the ancient Greek marmairo, meaning “to shine”, in reference to their medium and the artisans’ ability to transform hard stone into dynamic, fascinating works of art. MMairo collaborates with international designers, architects, and artists to create modern decor solutions with timeless details and rigorous quality controls.

Passionate about art since childhood, Genova-born Maurizia Carantani graduated from the Carrara Academy of Fine Arts and began her career in painting and graphic design in the 1970s. In 1980, she debuted her first collection of ceramic pieces characterized by irregular shapes, contrasting finishes, and unconventional materials. The expressive, bold quality of her pieces and focus on abstract geometries define her personal style. Carantani’s many works are featured in private collections, museums, and art galleries in Europe, the United Arab Emirates, and Japan.

Ninefifty is a young Sicilian atelier specializing in the production of majolica in terracotta and lava stone from Etna. The founding brothers Nicolò, Fausto and Alessandro Parrinello, who learned their craft in a historic workshop in Caltagirone, harnessing their creativity, skills and experimental mindset, have created collections designed by Margherita Rui to enhance the expressive power and imperfections of the materials. Each tile is individually crafted and detailed freehand. Ninefifty debuted at EDIT Naples 2020 and its Alphabet Collection won the Best New Product Award.

Synonymous with elegance and unrivaled quality, Ferri has been making luxury furniture since 1956. Each tailored collection represents the essence of Italian excellence with traditional craftsmanship and technological innovation meeting at every step, from raw material sourcing and design to production and customization. Located in Altamura (BA), Ferri has collaborated with renowned designers such as Palomba Serafini Associati, whose creativity has expanded the brand’s style and reach.

German-born artisan Agnes Duerrschnabel has had an unconventional artistic journey. First moving to Milan for a language course, she worked as an interpreter and sworn translator for the Court of Como for over 30 years. Never once setting aside her passion for art, she returned to Germany in 2007 to study at the National Institute for Ceramics Design in Höhr-Grenzhausen and, in 2013, opened a workshop in Como’s historic Santa Margherita monastery. Her unique pieces have a delicate aesthetic that feature grès, porcelain, and natural elements such as marine wood and stones.

Master glassmaker Carlo Rosa founded Vetreria Artistica Rosa in Venice after decades of experience in Murano glass craftsmanship and a deep passion for this timeless material. Designed by Carlo and his two sons Denis and Omar, these magnificent lighting fixtures are entirely crafted by hand with tools used by Murano artisans for centuries. Each piece can be customized or made-to-order, making it a splendid masterpiece of unparalleled artistic value.

Ars Murano was founded in 1982 by glass masters Roberto Cammozzo, Elio Raffaeli and Renzo Vianello, whose early collaboration with artist Livio Seguso proved fundamental in developing the precision, purity, and elegance for which their pieces are known. Driven by expertise and passion, the glass-making factory specializes in both large and small abstract and modern sculptures certified by the Vetro Artistico® Murano trademark. The atelier is known for reviving traditional methods and motifs, notably “aquarium” sculptures, and collaborating with international artists.

Based in Sernobi, Sardinia, OTQ is a woodworking atelier founded by Matteo Congiu specialized in cork-based interior design solutions. Congiu’s love of wood began at an early age thanks to the family business “Sud Legno”, a successful wood production company. During his Master in Digital Fabrication in Milan, Congiu explored the relationship between artisan techniques and new technologies. After his debut at the Salone del Mobile 2015, OTQ became a reality, transforming into the present-day atelier renowned for its bold Sardinian identity and culture of innovation.

Located in Treviso, Fisionarte is a diverse team of Italian designers and master craftsmen who create innovative, high-end lighting solutions that challenge the conventional conception of the industrial sector. Experience, savoir-faire, and passion unite the team, led by Creative Director Domenico Rinaldi. Each piece is entirely handcrafted, transforming fabrics, metals, and blown glass into timeless designs of unparalleled creativity and workmanship. Fisionarte works with customers to meet their needs and propose original ideas for residential and commercial decors.

The Pordenone-based marble company formerly known as Del Savio Marmi changed its name to Del Savio 1910 on the occasion of its 110th anniversary. Headed by three generations, the company originally specialized in Venetian and Palladiana floorings and gradually expanded production into the construction sector by modernizing manual techniques and integrating high-tech equipment. Their artisanal designs are created by specialized artisans that combine tradition and innovation, past and present, to elevate the unique cultural heritage at their core.

V.L. Lavorazioni in Ferro, founded in 2001, specialises in handcrafted metalworking, blending tradition and innovation. Led by Alessandro Lucarini and Federico Santini, the company creates pieces in mild steel, stainless steel and aluminium, using advanced techniques such as CNC plasma cutting and hot shaping. Collaborating with designers such as Antonio Saporito and wood and ceramic artisans, V.L. makes and sells high quality furniture and furnishings for residential and contract spaces, enhancing Italian design with durability, lightness and harmonious shapes.

Born in Bologna to a family of art collectors, Luisa Longo studied at the Ècole du Louvre in Paris where she first began painting on organza, silks, and satins (Fibre Art). Longo combines these versatile textiles with water-based colors, special acrylics, and powder pigments for a striking see-through effect, transforming her pieces into decorative objects and home furnishing accessories. Longo draws inspiration from symbolism and expressionism, her pieces a constant exploration of the cosmos, nature, and music. She lives in Trastevere, Rome in her Guest House-Fibre Art Studio.

Specialized in the production of iron furnishing objects, Idee del Fabbro was founded in 1996 by Paolo Quadalti to preserve the art of Italian hand-wrought iron. Based in Masiera di Bagnacavallo, Ravenna, the company uses a combination of traditional blacksmithing processing techniques and technological innovation to assemble different materials, such as iron, steel, copper, aluminum, wood, ceramic, and glass. Each piece is entirely one-of-a-kind, defined by sinuous and graceful shapes inspired by a natural simplicity. Some pieces are made in collaboration with Lorenzo Quadalti.

Founded in 1956 by Rocco Ferri, Bari-based eponymous furniture company is renowned for its tailored pieces and innovation-driven design culture. Creative talents and detailed craftsmanship combined with technological know-how and a strong social-environmental responsibility are the hallmarks of Ferri’s production processes. No detail is overlooked by their expert craftsmen -from raw material sourcing and fabric selection to design and customization -to create Ferri’s modern and competitive products, made according to the highest canons of Italian artisan tradition.

Mirei Monticelli is a Milan-based multidisciplinary designer and founder of Studiomirei, a project born in 2019 with the mission to create eco-conscious sustainable lighting and objects using industrial processes and traditional artisan techniques. The main material is Banaca fiber, cultivated from the Philippines and woven by a community of weavers in the province of Bicol. Born in the Philippines, Monticelli has a Masters degree in Design and Engineering from the Politecnico di Milano and received the Salone Satellite for her Nebula lamp during Milan Design Week 2019.

Urban planner, architect, and designer Ennio Nonni was born in Faenza in 1954 where he directed urban design projects for over 30 years. Nonni cultivated his passion for design through his minimal and colorful vases and sculptures characterized by the "faience", glazed ceramic earthenware, combined with themes of futuristic cities, enigmatic but not unlikely architectural fantasies. In addition to his artistic pursuits, Nonni directed two museums (MAP Institute and MUS.T) and introduced incentives for green construction, “biourbanism”, and contemporary art projects in 2019.

Fabio Pierantonio’s artistic vision embodies balance and the connection between man and nature. His extensive travels exposed him to the spirituality of the Aboriginal Australians and Native Americans, rooted in overcoming the alienation and anxieties of modern life by reconnecting with the natural world. His works are expressed through carefully selected organic materials that are combined to convey a harmony of shapes, colors and emotion. Pietrantonio lives between the Alps and the island of Sardinia, drawing inspiration from these two captivating environments.

Tipstudio is a design studio based in Florence and Pietrasanta that explores the potential of materials and processes with a critical, future-oriented approach. Bridging design and art, Tipstudio specializes in creative consulting, research, furniture design, and limited-edition collectibles. Recognized by Elle Decor’s "Talent on Show" at Milan Design Week 2022, they collaborate with galleries, brands, and private clients. Founders Imma and Tommaso are also Course Leaders of the Interior Design Master’s Program at IED Florence.