«I was fourteen when I found a flare gun from the ’15-’18 war: it was that day that my passion for old things began. My economic possibilities were very limited at the time; anyway, I managed to earn some money by reselling the tools purchased in the bric-à-brac and rutamàt of the surrounding area.
A few years later I went to England: after finishing a language course in Oxford, I moved to London, where I finished the last money I had saved for the English adventure; fortunately I soon found work in Soho, as a waiter in an Italian restaurant. I spent six months on the Thames, visiting the famous Portobello Road market in Notting Hill every Saturday; I learned a lot, and I took some odds and ends home with me: small ivories, walking sticks, pocket watches. Many curious things that opened my eyes to what a future commercial activity could be. However, returning home was not a free choice: I had to return to Italy because, in the meantime, the military service postcard had arrived.
Once the naja was over, and when I returned home, I noticed a dilapidated farmhouse on Viale Zara, near the Rondo of Monza; I rented it. The owners granted me a favorable rent because, in addition to having partially restored it, I took care of it».
«In May I obtained the license to sell antiques from the Municipality of Monza. I then borrowed three million lire from my brothers, which allowed me to make my first substantial purchase in the United Kingdom. I mainly bought furniture: sideboards, tables, chairs, armchairs, and other minor things from the Victorian age.
In Leeds I then met an extraordinary character, the antique dealer Charles Seep, who took me to discover antique shops and warehouses throughout England, Scotland and Ireland. For a decade I went back and forth, even eight times a year, between Italy and the British Isles: earning a little, and learning a lot».
«Over time, however, general interest in English furniture waned; fortunately, in the meantime I had accumulated many other interesting things. In the nineteenth century the United Kingdom had dominated half the world, and it was possible to find an infinite number of objects in silver, ivory and precious woods on its territory; objects highly appreciated by collectors, myself included.
I therefore began to assiduously frequent the Italian markets, with my english rarities: Bollate, Brescia, Bergamo, Arezzo, Città di Castello. In the meantime I had gotten married, and thanks also to the support of my wife we began to participate in exhibitions: the Mercante in Fiera di Parma, Sabbioneta, Verona, Modena, Cortona, Pennabilli, Siena… and then those in Milan: the Permanente di Via Turati, the Biennial at the Fair. Fantastic exhibitions that stimulated us to improve the quality of our things, their rarity and beauty. We often discovered little-known but very important objects: scientific instruments, ancient religious books full of illuminated pages, French enamels, vanitas of various kinds, and other rarities that we offered to collectors.
We dreamed of buying a caravan to be more free and better enjoy this somewhat gypsy life: but things changed».
«An antiques dealer in Via Madonnina, in Brera, had in fact decided to retire: we therefore settled in his shop. This allowed us to improve our work, with more precious and rarer antiques. Since then our headquarters have still been located in Via Madonnina. The place is small, but full of precious and very rare things.
Since 2008 I have been looked after by my daughter Cristina, who follows me with a passion for everything that passes through her hands. Now she’s the antiques dealer, and I’m the advisor.
I would love to find a ’15–’18 flare gun. I would put it in a box, marked Not for sale».
«I was fourteen when I found a flare gun from the ’15-’18 war: it was that day that my passion for old things began. My economic possibilities were very limited at the time; anyway, I managed to earn some money by reselling the tools purchased in the bric-à-brac and rutamàt of the surrounding area.
A few years later I went to England: after finishing a language course in Oxford, I moved to London, where I finished the last money I had saved for the English adventure; fortunately I soon found work in Soho, as a waiter in an Italian restaurant. I spent six months on the Thames, visiting the famous Portobello Road market in Notting Hill every Saturday; I learned a lot, and I took some odds and ends home with me: small ivories, walking sticks, pocket watches. Many curious things that opened my eyes to what a future commercial activity could be. However, returning home was not a free choice: I had to return to Italy because, in the meantime, the military service postcard had arrived.
Once the naja was over, and when I returned home, I noticed a dilapidated farmhouse on Viale Zara, near the Rondo of Monza; I rented it. The owners granted me a favorable rent because, in addition to having partially restored it, I took care of it».
«In May I obtained the license to sell antiques from the Municipality of Monza. I then borrowed three million lire from my brothers, which allowed me to make my first substantial purchase in the United Kingdom. I mainly bought furniture: sideboards, tables, chairs, armchairs, and other minor things from the Victorian age.
In Leeds I then met an extraordinary character, the antique dealer Charles Seep, who took me to discover antique shops and warehouses throughout England, Scotland and Ireland. For a decade I went back and forth, even eight times a year, between Italy and the British Isles: earning a little, and learning a lot».
«Over time, however, general interest in English furniture waned; fortunately, in the meantime I had accumulated many other interesting things. In the nineteenth century the United Kingdom had dominated half the world, and it was possible to find an infinite number of objects in silver, ivory and precious woods on its territory; objects highly appreciated by collectors, myself included.
I therefore began to assiduously frequent the Italian markets, with my english rarities: Bollate, Brescia, Bergamo, Arezzo, Città di Castello. In the meantime I had gotten married, and thanks also to the support of my wife we began to participate in exhibitions: the Mercante in Fiera di Parma, Sabbioneta, Verona, Modena, Cortona, Pennabilli, Siena… and then those in Milan: the Permanente di Via Turati, the Biennial at the Fair. Fantastic exhibitions that stimulated us to improve the quality of our things, their rarity and beauty. We often discovered little-known but very important objects: scientific instruments, ancient religious books full of illuminated pages, French enamels, vanitas of various kinds, and other rarities that we offered to collectors.
We dreamed of buying a caravan to be more free and better enjoy this somewhat gypsy life: but things changed».
«An antiques dealer in Via Madonnina, in Brera, had in fact decided to retire: we therefore settled in his shop. This allowed us to improve our work, with more precious and rarer antiques. Since then our headquarters have still been located in Via Madonnina. The place is small, but full of precious and very rare things.
Since 2008 I have been looked after by my daughter Cristina, who follows me with a passion for everything that passes through her hands. Now she’s the antiques dealer, and I’m the advisor.
I would love to find a ’15–’18 flare gun. I would put it in a box, marked Not for sale».
Art and antiques in Brera since 1966
On monday, open by appointment
From Tuesday to Saturday 11:00 — 19:00
Open the third Sunday of the month
(during the Mercatino di Brera)
Art and antiques in Brera since 1966
On monday, open by appointment
From Tuesday to Saturday 11:00 — 19:00
Open the third Sunday of the month
(during the Mercatino di Brera)
Art and antiques in Brera since 1966
On monday, open by appointment
From Tuesday to Saturday 11:00 — 19:00
Open the third Sunday of the month
(during the Mercatino di Brera)