Maurizio Betti

La Bottega di Betti

Woodworker

©Andrea Borgini

The aviary maker

Maurizio’s father was a restorer and a lacquerer
His partner Loredana is a professional decorator
He has a deep interest in ornithology

Maurizio Betti inherited his interest in craft activities from his father Pasquale, who was in the 1970s an official restorer for the Municipality of Rimini: he helped restore the famous and beautiful Roman mosaic that depicts the ancient port of Rimini. Genuine art, in Maurizio’s opinion, "is about truth, goodness and beauty": that’s why his greatest masterpieces are the big and scenographic aviaries, which protect birds from cold and bad weather. Maurizio has loved birds ever since he was a child: his grandfather was a gardener and taught him a lot about nature and animals. Today Maurizio works with his partner Loredana, a professional decorator, and his son Jonathan. Together they run a workshop located in an old stable surrounded by a fairytale garden.

Interview

©Andrea Borgini

©Andrea Borgini

Did you have a master?: Yes, I started working with my father, a restorer, when I was only 14 years old. He taught me everything I know. I met my partner Loredana 20 years ago, she’s a decorator, so we decided to work together opening our restoration workshop, where we also make furniture by lacquering and gilding.
How did the aviaries come about?: I have loved birds ever since I was a child, so I started to build small wooden aviaries to protect the birds of our garden from cold and rain. But these “tiny houses” got bigger every day. So I started decorating them, adding more and more details. Then a lady from Milan saw my aviaries at a fair and became my first client.
What’s so special about your aviaries?: Our aviaries are built and refined paying attention to the smallest details. They need to be extremely comfortable for the birds: inside them there are feeders, running water, lamps for lighting and heating. Each breed of bird has its own needs, just like humans.
Do you produce other items too?: Yes, but today we are mainly known for our aviaries. But in our workshop and showroom in Rimini you can find wooden birdhouses, feeders, doghouses, garden decorations, small jewels, lanterns, boxes and home decor pieces.

Maurizio Betti is an expert artisan: he began his career in 1978