Francesco Tramontano

Jewellery maker

©Francesco Tramontano Gioielli

A Neapolitan tradition

Francesco is inspired by the Mediterranean sea
He enjoys interacting with his customers
His creations incorporate symbols with multiple meanings

“My passion for this craft was born from the desire to give shape to my creativity,” says Francesco Tramontano. “Jewellery enable me to transform my ideas and immediately give them a material and tangible shape.” His choice to become a jewellery maker was influenced by his origins: for three generations his family has specialised in the production of metal accessories for leather goods. “I immediately became passionate about jewellery, which gave me the opportunity to approach the craft experimenting with new and different materials, far from the classic goldsmith's art.” Francesco creates unique pieces with precious and semi-precious metals, glass, shells and wood collected near the sea. His shop in Naples hosts both his collections and his work bench.

Interview

Where did you learn to become a goldsmith?: I am self-taught. At 16, I made my first creations with the help of craftsmen who introduced me to the trade by teaching me the basic goldsmith techniques. At 18, I realised that this was the path I would follow and I bought my first workbench, completing my training with other master artisans.
In what way do you express tradition and innovation?: I try to capture the beauty of tradition and elaborate on it. I believe that innovation is very important, and in fact I use the most advanced processing techniques to achieve perfection.
How would you define your work?: As a continuous challenge between me and those who approach my work: I would like people to grasp the beauty that is in my art and at the same time use it, wear it and find the right feeling. I think that the type of jewels I make acquire a soul when they are worn.
What is it like to work in close contact with the public?: Communicating with the public is fundamental in my work! Stylisation is the basis of my projects and many times they give space to interpretations. I enjoy hearing that a jewel born as a flower becomes a sun, a star or something else when looked at by my customers.

Francesco Tramontano is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2001