Italian fountain pens, watches, leather goods and accessories
Posted in Products, Protagonists on May 6th, 2023
In my many years of successful collaboration with Delta, I had never been to Naples to visit their offices and factory. Finally, invited and solicited several times by Nino Marino, I hopped on the plane. The trip was definitely worthwhile: apart from personal knowledge and an overview of the machinery, I will now tell you […]
Posted in Events, Protagonists on Feb 19th, 2023
The good news, which we all know by now, is that Delta has resumed production. Once again Nino Marino is leading Delta in the international pen market. Marino founded Delta in 1982, and developed it throughout its 36 years of activity until it closed. To find out more, I interviewed him in person.
Posted in Products, Protagonists on Oct 26th, 2021
After four years of inactivity, South Tirol-based company Storia (“history” in Italian) has resumed their production of wooden pens (and not only that). Storia’s pens gained them accolades from all over the world, so we have decided to interview their founder, Federico Testa, to know a bit more about this unexpected comeback. .
Posted in Products, Protagonists on Dec 5th, 2019
Stipula has been missing from Giardino Italiano’s catalog for quite a while now. And yet, the brand has always been there, alive and kicking. I missed the Stipulas. They are beautiful, interesting, and charming pens. They remind me of those prim-and-proper ladies: they won’t surprise you with the latest fashion, but will never look out […]
Posted in Products, Protagonists on Sep 3rd, 2018
Some new pens have hit the market. It’s the Momento Zero series (the Italian for “Zero Moment”). They display a beautifully classical look, with their informal and natural style. The colors of their resins and celluloid are sober, yet iridescent. Their name calls for rebirth, commitment, and enthusiasm. The brand is Leonardo Officina Italiana, a […]
Posted in Products, Protagonists on Aug 21st, 2018
I interviewed Dante Del Vecchio one and a half years after leaving Visconti. Founder and CEO of Visconti up to 2016, Dante del Vecchio is the creator of all the Visconti pens, inventor of all its patents and author of its successes. Instead of greeting a golden retirement, as many people would do at his […]
Posted in Products, Protagonists on Feb 14th, 2017
“When you play a game of thrones you win or you die.” ― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones Stark, Baratheon, Lannister and Targaryen: if you know what these names stand for, you will be excited to know that Montegrappa has created a new line of pens inspired by the four clans of ‘A Game of […]
Posted in Events, Protagonists on Dec 15th, 2016
Dante Del Vecchio is leaving Visconti. Incredible, but true. He sent a note yesterday, announcing that he’s leaving the direction and chairmanship of Visconti by the end of the year, due to internal conflicts with his business partner. . .
Posted in Events, Products, Protagonists on Sep 4th, 2015
Omas and the Dante Alighieri Society present “Dante Alighieri”, a limited edition of pens dedicated to the Italian ‘Supreme Poet’. Dante is known as the Father of the Italian Language: you can find Omas’ tribute to him at Giardino.it.
Posted in Products, Protagonists on Oct 17th, 2014
Luca Viti, Sales Executive at Antiche Fabbriche Firenze, reveals the backstory of the new Etruria recast by Stipula in its faceted versions. This is a story that begins in faraway Arizona and arrives to the city of Florence, Italy.
Posted in Products, Protagonists on Nov 17th, 2013
There are two small villages in the Italian countryside around Modena and Reggio Emilia, where the tradition of wood carving and inlay put their roots back in the Eighteenth century. Here, in Rolo and Novellara, carpenters of peasant origins are not simple wood workers, yet specialised craftsmen integrating technical and artistic mastery: they are cabinetmakers whose reputation has been going beyond Italian borders and whose handiworks have been commissioned from local nobles and rich North-European countries since then. D-Parmy, a small firm sticking to Rolo’s and Novellara’s fine arts to produce their fountain pens, fits in the background of this excellence tradition. You can now have their precious works of art by Giardino Italiano.
Posted in Products, Protagonists on Nov 11th, 2013
If it’s true we write to remember, to prevent time to blur our memories, it’s also true the tool we use for writing can be itself an object belonging to history. Storia’s pens surely are. Storia is a company based in Bolzano, northern Italy, founded by a brave entrepreneur of Rome, Federico Testa. He designs and handcrafts his pens by himself, producing them in precious woods and metals: “Jewels for writing,” as he describes them. Indeed, there is much to be told about them. These wonderful creations are available at Giardino Italiano, where you can learn all about them.
Posted in Events, Protagonists on Jul 17th, 2012
Dante Del Vecchio announced it during the interview he gave us last April; and now, the prize has been collected. Mr. Onofrio, the winner, was Visconti’s guest in Florence, and personally accompanied by Mr. Del Vecchio to visit all factory’s departments.
Posted in Protagonists on May 31st, 2012
This interview actually started when I asked several collectors and users for what they would like to know from Luca Viti, general manager of Stipula. I collected many interesting cues, which I narrowed in 10 questions. Mr. Viti was so kind to answer (very kind, due to the text length…) and here are his answers.
Posted in Protagonists on Apr 3rd, 2012
A long chat with Dante del Vecchio about his Visconti. From materials to shapes, from jewelry pens to the Van Gogh, from production to sale: everything makes Visconti unique. And the opportunity for a customer of Giardino Italiano to visit Visconti