A light from within
- Francesco comes from a lineage of woodworkers spanning three generations
- He works light into his pieces to bring out the wood’s natural patterns
- Music being central to him, works are named after Beatles songs he loves
A third-generation woodworker from Pesaro, Francesco Profili’s earliest memories are of the scent of wood in his grandfather’s workshop. “I grew up immersed in an artisanal environment where working with my hands became second nature,” he recalls. In his late teens, he began making furniture for himself, an experience that had grown into a full-time profession by 2013. A defining body of work emerged from his experiments with light, exploring how it could reveal the wood’s innate markings. One striking example is a dining table composed of two walnut slabs divided by a backlit resin cast, while another is a coffee table in which light filters through wood cracks and growth rings, to resemble a night sky. "These works express my intent to go beyond form, creating an atmosphere of romance, mood, and warmth through striking design pieces," says Francesco.
INTERVIEW
I see my work as shaped by both sensitivity and a keen eye. While modern machinery is present, it plays only a marginal role, because what matters most to me is that people can sense the hand of the maker in each object.
Walnut has a natural elegance in its grain, tonal contrasts, richness and the contours of its bark. Each piece feels like a canvas painted by nature. Technically, it is strong and versatile, but its aesthetic soul is what makes it a favourite of mine.
Music is a fundamental element in my life and often accompanies me while I work, so naming the pieces I have worked on is a form of tribute to this time spent. Sometimes, the name also comes from the aesthetics of the piece.
My grandfather, Osvaldo Profili, and his brother started a woodworking company back in 1964, mostly making high-quality kitchens. Later on, my father, Marco, worked with them before opening his own custom furniture workshop in 2000.
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