• Philip and Arianne specialise in commesso fiorentino
• Together they reinterpret the traditional rules of stone marquetry
• Their creations are one-off pieces made mostly on commission

Arianne Palla and Philip Kron Morelli met at the prestigious Scuola di Alta Formazione dell'Opificio delle Pietre Dure in Florence, where they graduated in the conservation and restoration of commesso fiorentino. This stone marquetry technique was prized by Ferdinando I de’ Medici, who established the original Opificio workshops in 1588. “I never contemplated the idea of taking up a profession that was not manual,” says Philip, “and my curiosity to understand how ancient works in semi-precious stones were made was a stimulus to create my own.” Arianne, co-founder of Atelier Terre, shares the same vision. “Thanks to our training and experience as restorers,” she explains, “we can implement our understanding of the craft and its techniques to reinterpret tradition in a contemporary aesthetic.” The duo make interior pieces from stone, adding a playful twist of colour or symbolism through detailed use of stone marquetry at surprising angles.