The students of the Schools of Art and Trades of Rome were the protagonists of the ideas for the design of an artistic-handcrafted gadget contest, announced by the Department of Tourism, Vocational Training and Work, ended few months ago.
The contest was announced to create a handcrafted, fine and exclusive product with a strong cultural content, a symbol of Rome that constitutes a quality alternative to low-priced souvenirs. The announcement required the creation of a gadget inspired by Rome, preferably made with eco-friendly materials, allowing tourists to take home a "cultural souvenir", a vehicle and testimony to the enormous Roman handcraft heritage. A result achieved thanks to the Schools of Art and Crafts, which creatively safeguard, hand down and develop Roman craftsmanship, with their history, laboratories, equipment, archives and, above all, with the teaching of a " know-how ”unique and specialized.
The gadgets having conquered the podium are:
1) Adopt a mosaic by Edoardo Maria Buono Maurizzi
With this gadget, the visitor / buyer is the protagonist: he himself will create the product according to the ancient mosaic technique, experimenting this artistic experience. It consists of a kit with detailed instructions for the composition of the mosaic and references to the history of the materials. The tiles, made of natural materials, are pre-cut by hand and precisely recall the Roman tradition. The project establishes that, with the purchase, part of the contribution will be donated to support the preservation of the artistic heritage.
2) Capitello coffee spoon by Flavio Bellantuono
A handcrafted silver coffee spoon, whose body is handmade and ends with a stylized Corinthian capital, welded on the handle and revisited by the Pantheon model. The object is made with noble and durable materials, in order to bring along a small, beautiful and well-made creation, a souvenir of the Eternal City and a symbol of Roman conviviality.
3) Monumental Bestiary of Maria Teresa Rizzuti
The 6 prints folder come from the idea of representing Rome in a recognizable, classic, but not obvious way. The tale of the city takes place through the bestiary, a kind of text already used in Ancient Rome, through the selection of details of monuments, with the linocut technique. The monuments depicted are: the Column of Peace, the Fountain of the Dioscuri, the Fountain of the Lions, the Fountain of Neptune, the Capitoline Wolf and the Obelisk of Minerva.
Photo credits Marcello Colasanti
