Finding freedom in furniture
- Germano became a cabinetmaker against the odds
- He sometimes combines wood marquetry with stone and metal
- He works on his own and cherishes his independence
Germano Marchetti was not born an artisan, he became one. His family background and his studies were far from the dust of woodworking, but his passion for this craft was larger than life. Over the years he patiently learned from established master artisans. From his native Italy he travelled the world, becoming a design product manager first, then moving to Barcelona in 2010 where he settled, honed his skills in cabinetmaking and developed his art deco signature style. Germano's specialties are marquetry and veneering. He says he never loses touch with the context and intention of a piece while he is creating it, aiming for a client to still be in love with a piece of furniture in ten years’ time.
INTERVIEW
My family background did not encourage me towards manual work, so I truly had to fight to emerge as a craftsman. Years of hard work, trial and error were my path until I met a 90-year-old retired craftsman who completed my training.
I am an artisan. The magic of making something that did not exist before is priceless. I am constantly researching and challenging myself. To me form and function go hand by hand and are the essence of the creative design process and execution.
Research is what allows me to nourish and improve myself. I study a lot. My sources of inspiration are the veneering techniques of the 18th century and of deco modernism, periods which to me were the height of human creativity and ingenuity.
To me it’s everything. I spend hours talking and listening to them, interpreting their wishes and translating them into functionality. I try to deliver a finished piece that will feel and look familiar to each client.
