The Craftsman
The craftsmanship is positive combination of traditions and innovations. The most genuine and the most ancient expression of manual labour is carried out in the traditional work of weaving raffia fibers. Antonio Monti keeps on, in his workshop, a very ancient, local tradition: the skillfully weaving, and even the embroidering straw and raffia to adorn our tables, our clothes and also our furnishings with evocative effect.
Ischia isle offers to the whole world, not only its famous sea and sun, but also its craftsmanship: baskets, hats, bags and umbrellas. Monti’s workshop is one of the most ancient Italian handbag and basket manufacturers. This workshop was born in 1865 from the whim creative ability of the craftsman Lacchese, "MariaGiovanna Catuogno" great-grandmother of the present craftsman Antonio Monti, that has be able to hand down the raffia weaving, maintaining alive in the time the secrets of the ancient systems of production. Today Antonio Monti carries on the family tradition, manufacturing over 120,000 pieces (always new and original creations) every year. Special care is reserved to the attractive baskets for bread, biscuits, bottle basket crates, bags and hats, anticipating the fashion, with a touch of color and charm always at the avant-garde. A line of production is dedicated to champagne basket crates and to American services.
In 1945 inspired by photography of the Sardinian basket and straw baskets Lacco Ameno, Madame Restituta Patalano my grandmother and her sons Umberto and Giuseppe Monti gave new vitality to the craftsmanship of Ischia island. The production of new iron frameworks to embroider the basket began. Previously Ischia baskets were colored: the “pontova” came from Switzerland and was colored in Florence.
Even Florentine able artisan masters were enthusiastic of our works, they tried to imitate and reproduce them. Meanwhile, the embroidering of raffia basket began. It was true jewelry. The whole island began to work again and thanks to Milan Sample Fair, on April, the whole free world knew embroideried raffia objects. The exports increased a lot, and the old customers of my grandmother began to sell our articles in their shops.
Diploma delivered to the company Restituta Patalano for the continuous and uninterrupted craftsmanship for over 30 years.
