Pierotucci leather factory launched a new limited edition for Summer 2015 in woven leather which is among one of the top Italian trends. You can choose more classic design in unicolore or more trendy look with bi colore combination. Click the image to check!
The modern image of Florence is characterized by the presence of so-called handicraft “Bottega”? Originally the word “bottega” meant a place where professional craftsmen and women sewed clothes to order using traditional techniques. The widespread popularity of “bottegi” increased in the 19th century, when Florence became one of the main tourist destinations in Europe perpetrated by members of aristocratic families. Craft workshops, in contrast to industrial companies, remained committed to traditional techniques and tools used for working on metal, wood, glass or other materials. In “bottegah” every individual product that is created, embodies the ideals of the Renaissance, which has remained one of the most important influences in Florentine history. After Florence experienced a deep economic crisis after the 18th century and the Napoleonic conquests, it began to actively use its historical relationship with a great past, creating magnificent works of art in the Renaissance style in marble, bronze, wood, ceramics, iron, leather and fabrics. In Santa Croce and the area of Oltrano, the first craft shops and antique shops were established that implemented the objects that embody the high and refined style of the Florentine aristocracy. However, by the end of the 20th century, tourism has evolved from the privileged classes and the mass production of inexpensive souvenirs replaced the workshops of handmade goods. Consequently, the business of these small workshops suffered badly. The catastrophic flood in 1966 also caused considerable damage to many “bottegi” and were forced to close. But on a happier note, one can still find the small craft shops specialising in traditional art.
Texture manufactures:
Antico Sete Fiorentino, via Bartolini 4. Opened in 1796, produces thin cloth on ancient designs from historical archives.
Tessitura di Rovezzano, via Aretina 507. Est. since 1948, producing flax and cotton fabrics for residences from his own sketches of liberty and deco style.
Leather artisans:
Pierotucci, via Lungo L’Ema 17. Established since 1972, produces classic leather bags and accessories using traditional techniques.
Scuola del cuoio, piazza di S.Croce 16. Effective from 1950. Full production cycle of skin and leather products.
Theatrical Costumes and Accessories:
Flistrucchi, Via Verdi 9. Produce wigs, hairpieces and makeup for the theater.
Sartoria teatrale fiorentina, piazza del Duomo 2. Produces historical costumes.
Masters of Stone:
Fratelli Traversari. Creates pictures from Florentine stone mosaic.
Fratelli Berti, via Turri 48. Produce countertops, panels for cabinets, vases and boxes of soft and hard stones.
Pharmaceutical shops:
Officina farmaceutica di S. Maria Novella, via della Scala 16. Valid from the 16th century, it sells spices, liqueurs, soaps, balms, made according to old recipes.
Alessandro Bizzari, via della Condotta 32 rosso. Established since 1842, creating herbs, spices and medicines.
Pottery and porcelain:
Manifattura di porcellane Richard Ginori, viale Giulio Cesare 50. Historical manufacturer for the production of forforovyh products. This historical collection is exhibited in the museum, via Pratese 31.
Manetti e Masini, via Bronzino 125. Established since 1925, is engaged in the restoration and reproduction of decorative ceramics and majolica of different types and styles.
Masters of wood:
Fratelli Vini, piazza S.Spirito 5 rosso. Established since 1887, carvings in soft wood using traditional techniques.
Bartolozzi e Maioli, via Maggio 13 rosso. Established since 1937, wood carving with ancient models.
Masters of Glass:
Locchi moleria vetro, via Burchiello 10. Estblished since the end of the 19th century, restoration and reproduced bottles, vials, glasses, carafes of glass and crystal, engraved and faceted.
Guido Polloni, via Fra Giovanni Angelico 71. Restoration and reproduction of stained glass.
Masters of bronze:
Ubaldo Baldinini, via Palazzuolo 105 rosso. Effective from 1920, producing handles, valves, keys, friezes and other decorative items made of bronze.
Luciano Ugolini, via del Presto di S. Martino 23 rosso. Established since 1950, producing amphorae, vases, bowls of copper and bronze on models of different artistic styles.
Masters of gold and silver:
Giovanni Manetti, Borgo San Jacopo 41 rosso. Traditional family of jewelers, manufacturing classic Florentine jewelry.
Paolo Pagliai, Borgo S.Jacopo 41 rosso. Reproduction of typical cutlery silver from the 18th century.
The art of leather has been practiced in Florence since the Middle Ages and The Leather Guild was one of the main Guilds playing an important role in governing the Florentine Republic. From raw skins that were mostly imported from northern Europe and the Orient, the craftsmen produced fine clothing through special tanning and other subsequent processes. This craft has acquired international importance, when Catherine de Medici with her dowry brought to France leather accessories made by Florentine artisans, which immediately gained wide popularity. Pierotucci continues to respect the traditions of leather production: http://www.pierotucci.com/en
The Leather art coat of arms
Many tourists visiting Florence are constantly asking “Where can we buy leather goods in Florence?” For centuries, Florence has been the most important region in Italy for leather goods, and depending on your personal preferences, you can choose so many different types of leather goods using different qualities, textures and finishes of leather.
If price is not an issue and you want something special and of good quality, you could go in the city center on Via Tornabuoni, Via Strozzi or Via Roma, where you will find famous brand shops where you can buy original designer leather goods. Obviously, we like to think the high end designer brands will be using genuine leather of very high quality.
If you don’t want to spend a lot of money, you could go to the leather markets, most famous of which is the San Lorenzo or Mercato dell Porcellino near Piazza della Signoria. The leather goods are not as expensive but not always of good quality.
If you want to find the middle solution between price and quality you can find some local leather shops around the city.
Purchasing leather merchandise where the quality is guaranteed and the production is 100% Italian, you could visit a leather factory, where you can observe how leather bags and leather accessories are made by experienced craftsmen and women.
But another important factor when you purchase a leather bag, leather jacket or leather shoes is to understand if the product is made from real or artificial leather. Here we will give you some tips on how you can recognize genuine leather from fake leather:
1. Smell: Genuine leather has a light natural smell. Fake leather usually has a strong smell of plastic or chemicals.
2. Warmth: Genuine leather transforms human warmth, while fake leather does not. So, if you hold a piece of genuine leather in your hand it gets warm.
3. The look: If you look carefully at genuine leather, it has an unique pattern. Fake leather has a repeated pattern. But be careful, because here you can confuse a fake leather with a genuine printed leather which has an homogeneous pattern.
4. By touch: If you touch genuine leather, it should be soft and elastic. If you stretch or bend it, it should easily return to its natural form. With fake leather the folds could remain or it could lose its color in the place where it is bent. The reverse side of genuine leather is velvety, whereas on fake leather it is smooth.
5. Fire resistance: If you hold a lighter near genuine leather it will gradually shrink and emit a smell similar to the smell of smoked chicken. When a lighter is held next to fake leather, it will usually react like a burned plastic bottle emitting an acrid smell and releasing black smoke. But some of the genuine leather products are covered with special coating that could react in the same way. So be careful doing this experiment in order not to spoil your leather bag or jacket.
6. Water: Genuine leather absorbs water and some spots of a darker tone usually remain. Fake leather does not absorb water, so it would just roll off.
So, following this simple guide lines you can easily recognize genuine leather from fake leather.
and checking it twice.
Looking for quality and Made in Italy Gift Ideas this year and this is what I came up with.
1) Gold fits every women.
2) Cosy and Cashmere.
3) Accessorize, Accessorize.
4) Fashionable technology
5) Handmade Italian Quality
6) Useful elegant gift idea
We❤ the way this mottled gray Italian leather jacket with the asymmetrical zip and cropped cut matches with this long wool skirt. The style is elegant, classy and personalized!
Click to see more combinations
