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Arte Italica @ Arte Italica CLD, LLC Jan. 30, 2017 • 10:32 PM • 2,614 days ago
Comment profile placeholder
Arte Italica @ Arte Italica CLD, LLC Jan. 30, 2017 • 10:32 PM • 2,614 days ago

It is hard to believe that 20 years has passed since Arte Italica was first created by Ann Skidmore, a stay at home mom in CA. Ann started Arte Italica from her home and the first shipments were from her garage, with all the family helping out! A couple of years later, Arte Italica moved its offical office to NY and began warehousing on the east coast. Her dream had come true and years of beautiful Italian products were born!

It was pewter that Ann fell in love with and was the inspiration for Arte Italica. She met a wonderful Italian family who's pewter factory in Brescia, Italy, had been making beautiful pewter pieces for generations. Today, pewter is still the backbone of our company.

Pewter wasn't the only category offered, Ann shared a deep love and passion for Italian ceramics as well. She began working with another factory who had been creating exquisite hand painted and hand crafted ceramics for generations as well.

It wasn't until 1999 that things really changed when Arte Italica introduced the popular Tuscan Collection. Never before produced, Ann and the Italian factory developed a collection where pewter rims and handles were added to Italian Ceramic. Bringing a brand new look and a completely new design to the market, Tuscan exploded onto the marketplace!

With Tuscan's great success Ann continued to experiment with adding pewter to other materials, such as glass, and Tesoro was born in 2005.

Then pewter with slate came our Pietra Trays in 2009.

In 2010, Ann helped to create pewter with French Porcelain.

Today we continue Ann's vision to take her beloved Pewter and combine it with other elements. Most recently it is our Giorgio Barware where we combine pewter, leather and glass.

As mentioned, ceramics also played a big role in forming Arte Italica. Our successful Pompeii Garden Series, introduced in 2004, featured over 8 styles in 7 colors.

Our Medici Collection, introduced in 2009 and still one of our best sellers, was a big hit for Arte Italica.

It paved the way for a new look and feel at Arte Italica, taking classic Italian colors and painting with a more neutral and vintage feel. This was unique in that most of the painting at this time was very bold and bright. Many patterns followed like Chianti and Amorini, but then came Natale in 2013!

Historically Arte Italica had never done holiday or a pattern specific to a season so we were all nervous. Initially Natale was only 5 pieces, but grew so successful today it has over 29 pieces and sub-collections like glassware and linens.

Through the years products have come and gone, but over all there will always be products that stand the test of time. Our Tuscan Dinnerware is still our top pattern, Medici, Bella Bianca, Burano, Natale and Vetro Gold are as well. Arte Italica strives to follow the vision Ann set forth as seen in our most recent Spring 2017 Introduction, like Eleganza and Notturo.

We look forward to bringing you more beautiful Italian made products in the next 20 years!

Here is a passage from our first catalog.

"Why should it be that this ancient land is still home to many of the world's greatest artisans? Why is it that the soul of Italy is still the fountain from which the world's appreciation of color and design emanate? It is simply the pride and tradition of the families. Fathers training their sons...Mothers inspiring their daughters...To Love and appreciate the natural splendor of the rich countryside and to imitate that splendor with their own hands."

1
Comments:
Jason Solarek picture
January 31, 2017 • 09:31 AM
Jason at Bridge:
Congrats, Ann :)

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