The Laboratory

Majestic wood reborn as Art.

The craftsman looks at the huge tree trunk and is amazed by the contrast between the immense size of the tree and the slenderness of its destiny. It is indeed fascinating to watch the creation of a wood-carving: its shape gradually emerges among wood shavings   and takes on its finished appearance, showing unexpected grain and knots, coming to life as new material which had been hidden from view. Each time, the wood reveals its natural and astonishing beauty.

 The craftsman begins to give shape to the material with the intention of narrating the magic, the poetry and tradition contained in a piece of wood which, to quote Collodi, may well have quite a different destiny from that of being made into a puppet.

How many prejudices there are about wood: a fool is called a blockhead, a person who moves awkwardly is called wooden and a wooden medal is one which is worth nothing, awarded to those who come in fourth or fifth, excluded from the prize-winners.

And yet a piece of wood might have a great destiny when infused with the creative energy of an artist.

To make a table you need wood, sang Sergio Endrigo but in actual fact it takes much more, expertise, study, patience and a remarkable aesthetic sense. It also takes love, such as that given by Geppetto to turn a lifeless stump into his Pinocchio.

Works of craftsmanship in wood, however, do not tell lies as the famous puppet did: they speak with sincerity; they quietly whisper the story of the master craftsman who designed them, the processes and techniques which have made them unique.

Gouges, sandpaper, files...these are the tools, which, in the hands of sensitive and patient hands, are able to give shape and life to wood, the most widely used of all raw materials.

The laboratory where the work is done is usually small and untidy, like that of an artist: the unique pieces that are made are not consumer goods but investments, objects made to last and form part of the heritage of those who will use them and hand them on to the next generation.

Wood immediately creates a homely atmosphere: a lamp, a centrepiece for a table, a bowl are ornaments which fit in naturally, guaranteeing a warm, friendly touch. Each object, treated with the proper finishing to highlight the shape, grain and special qualities of the wood used, becomes the unrivalled predominant feature of the room in which it is placed.