Collezione Wolfson

Collezione Wolfson

Images reproduced with permission from: Wolfsoniana - Regional Foundation for Culture and Entertainment, Genoa

The silverworks of Arrigo Finzi 1919-1940 inspired by the celebrated futurist architect Antonio Sant'Elia From 12 March 2010 at the Wolfsoniana in Genoa Nervi, ten silverworks by Arrigo Finzi are on display, coming from the collection of his daughter Olga Finzi Baldi, who has kindly lent them to the Wolfsoniana - Fondazione regionale per la Cultura e lo Spettacolo. Arrigo Finzi (La Spezia 1890 - Milan 1973) was one of the most interesting and original Italian silversmiths of the first half of the twentieth century. Suffice it to say that in 1950 his works were the only ones judged sufficiently innovative to participate in the exhibition Italy at work. Her renaissance in design today, the important exhibition that, hosted in twelve prestigious American museums, presented overseas the best of contemporary Italian craftsmanship, decorative arts and design. The works by Finzi exhibited at the Wolfsoniana refer to his production from 1919 to 1940. When, in 1909, the young Arrigo presented the project for his first workshop, he met Antonio Sant'Elia, who at that time was working in the technical office of the Municipality of Milan. In the following years he met the famous futurist architect again. A friendship developed between the two young men: Finzi, who wanted to start a production of modern silverworks, was fascinated by Sant'Elia's futuristic projects and asked him to design objects characterized by new and essential lines. Unfortunately, the war and the tragic death of the architect interrupted the partnership. But Finzi did not forget the lesson of his friend and, when he founded his company in 1919, the first pieces were inspired by Sant'Elia's drawings, as demonstrated by the centerpiece Futurismo presented at the Wolfsoniana. These works, however, did not achieve commercial success. Only later, in 1933, when the Finzi company was already established nationally and internationally, the silversmith registered the trademark "Sant Elia" with which he launched the season of the "Nova Argenteria" that distinguishes the production with the most modern lines, in which the futurist inspiration blends with clearly déco motifs and, in some pieces, reveals more substantial accents, already Novecento. A small publication dedicated to the figure of Arrigo Finzi, with texts by Silvia Barisione, Matteo Fochessati and Gianni Franzone, is published by Silvana Editoriale. The exhibition of Arrigo Finzi's silverworks was part of the collateral events of the exhibition Advertising and propaganda. Futurist ceramics and graphics, curated by Silvia Barisione, Matteo Fochessati, Gianni Franzone and Maria Teresa Orengo.

Gallery

Collezione Wolfson — wolf2

Canneté

Nettuno

Fontana

Delfino