Tommaso Pestelli

History in his hands

• The workshop was founded in 1908 by Tommaso’s grandfather
• In 2019 Tommaso was awarded the Talent du Luxe prize
• His works are influenced by the Florentine Renaissance

When you can boast a 100-year-old family history and a clientele that has included royal families from all over Europe, your destiny is more or less written. In fact, today Tommaso Pestelli runs this very business with only one big change compared to the past: he makes his jewellery himself, and his shop and workshop are merged together. His business is internationally recognised for its excellence: in 2019, the Centre du Luxe et de la Création awarded the Florentine master the Talent du Luxe prize, one of the many important tributes to Pestelli’s work, including being featured in the silver collection of Palazzo Pitti.

Interview

©Tommaso Pestelli

©Tommaso Pestelli

Did you ever consider any other career?

When I was young I couldn’t make up my mind, so my parents decided for me. My passion for this craft grew after art school: I enrolled at the Academy of Fine Arts to study sculpture and then went on to the Opificio delle Pietre Dure in Florence, where I studied jewellery restoration and glyptic art.

Were you trained by a master?

It was Antonio Batacchi, to this day a true legend in Florence. He had started working under my grandfather in the 1920s, at the age of 13. When he trained me he was already over 80. He was like a member of the family, I remember I used to play with him when I was a little boy.

Do you remember the first piece of jewellery you made?

It was a pendant with two snakes rolled around a big sapphire. I am very much inspired by the tradition of Florentine Renaissance, which I reinterpret according to my personal taste. I love to experiment, especially with complicated objects.

Do you feel the weight of this long family tradition?

Of course I do. Pestelli jewels were worn by princesses and queens: our many clients have included the House of Savoy, King Farouk of Egypt and the Royal Family of Romania. All this represents a past and a history of which I am very proud.

Tommaso Pestelli is an expert artisan he began his career in 1989

Works

©Tommaso Pestelli

©Tommaso Pestelli

©Tommaso Pestelli

©Tommaso Pestelli

©Tommaso Pestelli

Where