Guilloché Engraving
Guilloché engraving is a very ancient art, through which artisans can create geometrical decorative patterns on noble metals such as gold, silver, platinum, brass, steel and so on, by drawing single lines with special tools that range from the burin in high-speed steel to widia and diamond. It's impossible to date back the origin of this hand made artistic engraving technique that probably comes from Northern European coutries.
Lucia Massei and Francesco Chellini at Alchimia
When referring to Guillochè 1624 can be considered a relevant date, as it is the year found engraved on some watchcases decorated with the mentioned technique; that’s why it is commonly said that Guillochè was born in the XVIIth century, even if it is thought to have been developed even before. Deeply applied and indispensable in goldsmithery at that time, it reached its highest results with Fabergè, the famous Czar's goldsmith. Guilloché has survived as a rare and precious art, if we consider that the original tools are still used today after 3 centuries. The few Guillochè engravers go on producing artistic works thanks to the great hand dexterity required to overcome the difficulty of the applied technique, thanks to the love
for a tradition that is worth a future and to the desire to express their personal style, by using as their principal instrument: "the skilful hand of the craftsman".
Profile
Francesco Chellini is born in 1934 in the Chianti area, even if his family moved to Florence when he was still very young. He starts working right after finishing school, but he interrupts various experiences that do not allow him to express his creative vein.
He has the chance to see Maestro Contini demonstrating Guillochè technique and he becomes interested in it when he is 16 years old. He studies with the Maestro who learned Guillochè engraving from a German artisan who brought it together with the tools to Florence.
After some years he starts working on new models for Florentine firms specialized in that field and he rielaborates traditional patterns by applying them to various articles. He has been asked to produce specific objects and develops ideas for very well known brands such as Cartier and Gucci.
Alchimia
Piazza Piattellina 3r
50124 Firenze
055 223 218
