Marco Castorina

Castorina 1895

Woodcarver

©Eleonora Birardi

A family story

Marco was awarded Master of Arts and Crafts
He represents the fourth generation of woodcarvers
His favourite wood is cypress

Now leading the family business, Marco Castorina represents the fourth generation of woodcarvers, more than a century after his great-grandfather founded Castorina 1895 in Sicily. Then the family moved to Florence, renewing the tradition of high carpentry. With the members of his artisanal team, Marco produces a wide range of strictly handmade items, from natural wood articles such as frames, bases and legs for tables, consoles and coffee tables to ready to buy pieces and bespoke objects and furniture, decorated with the traditional Florentine finishes: gilding, lacquering and painting. The workshop is also dedicated to the restoration of antiques. Marco was awarded Master of Arts and Crafts and was included in the Golden Book of Italian Artisan Excellence (October 2020).

Interview

©Eleonora Birardi

©Eleonora Birardi

How do you combine tradition and modernity?: Tradition is the essential foundation of my work, technically speaking: this is an ancient craft passed down through the centuries. I combine it with innovation by producing objects designed in contemporary styles for modern taste.
What do you like most about you craft?: I like realising my clients’ wishes. I’m very sensitive, I can interpret what a customer wants, I design and make the piece following their imagination and my creativity. The best moment is when I read in their eyes that the object is more beautiful than they had imagined.
Do you have a favourite wood?: I really love cypress wood. When it’s being worked, it smells a particular way, it’s really intense. To me it’s like Proust’s madeleine: it immediately reminds me of the childhood I spent in the Tuscan countryside.
What is a memorable moment in your career?: When the movie director Cinzia T.H. Torrini came to our showroom to ask me to feature the Castorina workshop in her television series Pezzi Unici (Unique pieces), using our objects and furnishings. It was moving to see our products on the screen.

Marco Castorina is a master artisan: he began his career in 1993 and he started teaching in 2016