This volume has been produced by the Fondazione Cologni dei Mestieri d'Arte in close collaboration with Santoni, one of the most prestigious Italian artisan businesses of world renown. It sets out to tell the inside story of an extraordinary case- history of consummate excellence in one of Italy's flagship manufacturing sectors. Thanks to the perceptive and faithful account of Andrea Guolo, a journalist of specialist expertise in the field, and the engaging pictures taken inside the company in the Marches by Susanna Pozzoli, a sensitive and accomplished photographic artist, the craft of luxury men's footwear is told here in all its technical complexity, its art and poetry. It will delight the many connoisseurs and enthusiasts but also a wider general public who appreciate beauty and the culture of craftsmanship. There follows a richly detailed historical and technical background, which includes compelling interviews with Andrea Santoni, master craftsman, his wife, Rosa, life-long partner and soul of the company, his son Giuseppe, who carefully and lovingly took over his precious charge, and finally with the artisans who, under the Santoni leadership, have made this extraordinary enterprise so great. It is the epic adventure of a unique creative and productive model which has made Santoni the jewel in the crown of a large manufacturing district. These pages reveal the skill, expertise, passion, and technique, not to mention the humanity of its players, in a story all the more fascinating for its truth, a story of exemplary dedication to work and a passionate pursuit of beauty. For the first time, a successful Italian company, known the world over, highlights the voices and faces of its artisans. It is an unprecedented tribute to the value of what Santoni considers its "human capital," a wealth of knowledge, skills, abilities, loyalty to the company, worthy of being preserved, recognized and showcased. The story captivates the reader by revealing all the secrets of this artistic craft, undertaken in keeping with tradition but also with an innovative spirit, design technique, and outstanding manual skill. The poetic force of the images penetrate the heart of this reality, which is both business and workshop, exploring the different departments with designers and artisans at work, their surroundings and tools, the materials and conveyor belt processes... and you can almost hear the noise of the factory, the music of gestures, the soundtrack of craftsmanship, experiencing all its exciting beauty and the allure of an object well-made, with wisdom, lovingly crafted to perfection.
