Barbara & Luca Spini

Gilder

©Spini Interni

The golden touch

Luca and Barbara represent the third generation
They learned their skills from their grandfather
They are inspired by Florence's rich heritage

Luca and Barbara Spini learned to work and to read wood in their grandfather’s Florentine workshop when they were young. They used to spend their summers there. They began to appreciate the art of rediscovering ancient knowledege. Within the walls of the workshop, they learned how to gild ancient frames and mirrors. They are the third generation to continue the art that their grandfather began in the 1930s. The idea of working with classical shapes and ancient techniques merges with the desire to keep a link with the past. It’s not only a matter of history, but also of identity. The fact that they are pursuing this art form in Florence, the cradle of Renaissance tradition, makes it more special and pertinent.

Interview

©Spini Interni

What does gilding mean to you?: Luca: It excites me a lot. What I like the most is the aesthetic effect. It’s a lengthy process but the final result is noble. When restoring a gilded part of an ancient frame, 500 or 600 years-old, I feel the wood, it’s alive.
What is the gilding technique?: Barbara: There are two ways; the first is gouache gilding, used since the 16th century, and the second is oil gilding, used in the 18th century to embellish small parts of paintings. Both are complex procedures, at the end of which the goldleaf is applied.
What suprises people about your work?: Luca: The time it takes. There are different phases, each of which requires time. People normally don’t understand how this is fundamental to have a great final result.
What are your sources of inspiration?: Luca: I graduated in Literature. I’ve grown up in the city of Dante, close to noble palaces. I’ve always breathed the emotion of history. Through my work I try to marry classic with modern.

Barbara & Luca Spini are master artisans: they began their career in 1986 and they started teaching in 1986