The workshop
From ValleyLife August 2008
We had an eye-opening encounter with the famibl-run Legno e Colore, an artisanal studio where experimentation and aesthetic discovery is always the goal. The family is united in heart and spirit, evocative of a cell of Plato s Republic where each member has a role according to function and where talent, creativity and pragmatic genius flow freelv. In line with the original Tifernate old guard, and based on straightforward concepts and necessary boldness, Legno e Colore is an artisanal workshop that tends towards the marvellous. In 1978, Elio Mariucci and Emanuela Bastianoni took their first steps towards the restoration and the reconstruction of old furniture. Then, in the early 1980s, they introduced colour as a dominant element.
The concept of pitture diverse was employed, and soon geometric patterns took on importance, as efforts were made to study the relationship between complementary and opposing proportions. With time, the furniture became richer in terms of colour and theme, yet simpler in structure. The geometry remained essential, in favour of the solid lines and square shapes that give the pieces presence. It is a lively body of work as suited to the boldest and most ‘designed’ homes as to the traditional farmhouses of stone and terracotta. Elio Mariucci, a man renowned in his town for the politics of the Arti Nobili (among other things, he is a supporter of the Artefare group and the upcoming Wunderkammer, in the Palazzo Bufalini),had worked for years in the world of typography before returning to his passion for wood. After learning the rules of the game and techniques based on discipline, he set out on a path that linked painting and woodwork.
Together with the determination of a great lady, his wife Emanuela, who followed him into the family business after leaving her job com o in a factory, he kept up the hard work. The new generation, made up ofdaughter VeronicaMariucci and her husband Antonio, has made the production more efficient. Veronica tells us of her experience in the workshop. “I started right alter high school and followed my father’s footsteps into the study of colour and decorative techniques. Today I am proud of my original projects and I make use of Antonio’s woodworking skills. His cabinetry talents are invaluable and allow us to put our ideas into practice.” Her brother, Nicola Mariucci webmaster and graphic designer, adds sheen to the company’s communications.
Legno e Colore has gone through different stages and has witnessed a technical evolution in woodworking. “We were able to trust in the value of the materials. Today wood is more secure, more technical, so there is more experimentation without too much error. All our pieces are absolutely one-of-a-kind.” Among the large commissions and custom work, Legno e Colore was involved in an exclusive collaboration with the famous textile company Mastro Raphael and then in the early 90s provided furniture for Castello Antognolla. They have done work for the villa and the showroom in the Niccone Valley for the Gritti family, as well as doors, furniture and accessories for the Bastia Creti complex. The workshop has taken orders from all over, from London to Dubai. There is universal appreciation for the small studio that has enjoyed media attention for its work of a cultural nature.
Despite the strong focus on the aesthetic component, there are some things that will not change. “Even though the creative sparks fly in the workshop, during the process, the client is always consulted. The relationship between artistic freedom and technical execution is fundamental.” For the most part, the wood used comes from three varieties of fir from Austria. The colour is acrylic, treated with natural water-based products to guarantee stability and longevity. Also factors in the uniqueness of the designs, the handles and knobs on the drawers and chests are made from ceramics, bits of machinery, old faucets and lamps, brass, glass and old tools they all make up an essential part of the brand. The artistic furniture by Legno e Colore is always absolutely unique and the handles represent another fundamental element of this.
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