A family passionate about knives
- Silvano and Nicolò work together, sustaining a family tradition passed down since 1929
- Their knives are crafted with unconventional designs
- They both find endless inspiration from nature's myriad shapes and forms
Silvano and Nicolò Collini craft custom kitchen and table knives entirely by hand, combining passion and traditional forging techniques with innovative processes. Together they work at the workshop that was originally established in 1929 by Enrico Collini in the northern Italian Langhe region. The Collini knifemaking legacy has transcended through many generations to evolve into today’s Coltelleria Silvano Collini. Run by Silvano with his wife Giovanna since 1989, it remains a family-run artisanal enterprise, in which their children Alessia and Nicolò also participate. Silvano and Nicolò offer the possibility of selecting commissioned materials and finishes, and the ability to witness every step of the production process on request. The result is a unique knife that reflects the individuality of the owner.
Interview
- Do you remember when you first gained interest for this craft?
- Silvano: My father’s workshop was a sharpening workshop and from there I gained an interest in making them. Nicolò: When I was four, I used to play in the workshop and I made my first knife out of wood.
- What is the most important aptitude needed to be a knife maker?
- Nicolò: Dexterity is one of the most important aspects. In our work, after studying the knife and its materials, the hands are fundamental and it is necessary to know how to use them accurately. This is also important to avoid getting hurt.
- What defines your creative style?
- Silvano: I aim always to create an object that is beautiful as well as functional. I experiment with new techniques with the knowledge that the outcome can be a failure and that I can try again until I obtain the knife that I had imagined.
- Is your craft in danger of disappearing?
- Silvano: Regrettably, the craft was already endangered when I began. In recent years, I have observed a renewed interest in traditional crafts among young people, yet the craft is still at risk. Currently, there are few incentives for young individuals to pursue a career in craftsmanship.
Silvano & Nicolò Collini are master artisans: they began their career in 1989 and they started teaching in 2010
Where
Silvano & Nicolò Collini
