Architectural chairs
- Cosimo creates chairs inspired by landmark buildings
- He is following in the footsteps of his family
- He sees tradition and innovation as complementary
Cosimo de Vita comes from a family of artisans, he carries on the family tradition by creating exquisite wooden chairs decorated with the architectonic masterpieces of Florence – a way for expat Florentines to feel back in their home town, and for all those who love Florence to bring a piece of the city’s beauty and artisanal tradition into their houses. Cosimo considers himself both an artisan and artist, stating that “artists have the vision but they don’t always have the savoir-faire” and vice-versa. He is worried that craftmanship in Florence would become somewhat of a tourist attraction: “Being an artisan is not about entertaining a crowd, it is about working and creating things with your hands.”
Interview
- Why did you choose to specialise in chairs specifically?
- My great grandfather made seats for cinemas. I never met him but I was fascinated by his work. I think of the chair as a versatile object: we use it for multiple purposes but, more broadly, it represents occupying a space in time.
- Where do you draw inspiration for your work?
- I love architecture, that’s why I chose to place Florence’s architectonic masterpieces on my chairs. But originally I got the idea by sitting down in Santo Spirito square: I envisioned the church as the backrest and the churchyard as the seat.
- How is your craft linked to your city?
- During the Renaissance, artisans and carpenters in particular opened their workshops in San Frediano and Santo Spirito (which is where I come from), providing service to the noble homes around the Medici’s Palazzo Pitti. These neighbourhoods are still the heart of Florentine craftmanship.
- How do you combine tradition and innovation in your work?
- Craftmanship has always benefited from innovation – knives, saws, crank drills, electric drills…Today I sometimes use CNC machines. Whilst the human hand and eye cannot be replaced, it is interesting to use the contemporary technology available.
Cosimo de Vita is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2012
Works
Where
Cosimo de Vita
