At the age of 18 he suffered a major injury that caused him to lose three fingers on his left hand, but that did not stop him from chasing his dream, which was opening his own workshop. At the age of 28, together with his mother, who was a factory worker at the time, he started to produce custom-made furniture and door and window frames for Venetian customers, in a shack that had been disused after the 1966 flood.
Sebastiano and I (Agnese), second and fourth sons respectively, along with our two other siblings, grew up in this workshop, and our toys were the discarded pieces of wood from production.
We often accompanied our father to set up his creations inside beautiful buildings. At the time, there were no tools such as screwdrivers or nailers, all the work was done by hand, and we would help by handing the nails to our father: we felt proud to come home with our hands blackened by the iron from the nails. After graduating respectively as a surveyor and cabinetmaker, my brother and I decided to wok for the family business, which had about fifteen employees in the 1980s.
The first years were very hard, as Angelo was intransigent and strict, but this was a good training for both of us, which helped us to become more strong and determined. In 2018 we decided to create the “Lunardelli Venezia” brand, a name intended to express our gratitude to a city that has allowed our family to grow, and that has given us the privilege, with its contagious beauty, to develop a certain taste for design and craftsmanship.
Our works are inspired by the architectural and natural elements that characterise the city. Each element of our works has a precise meaning, and a story to tell, which is sometimes unknown. Thus, through our objects, we try to disseminate a culture linked to the traditions of a city that is alive, dynamic and not merely conceived as a museum.
How has the business evolved over two generations and more than 50 years?
Sebastiano is the only one of the four brothers who has been able to pick up the baton left by his father, in terms of manual work. Thanks to his studies at the Institute of Cabinetmaking in Bassano del Grappa and his ability to experiment, he has been able to run the company in his own way, respecting tradition but at the same time bringing innovation, and finding the right balance between the two. His tireless search for new solutions, new materials for finishing and new ways of shaping wood has made the company what it is today. He often spends whole nights thinking about our projects. Sometimes he shows up the next morning with a brilliant idea, and in an instant the work takes shape. Thanks to him, important and above all daring projects can be completed. His restless passion and dedication shine through in every work.
How is the workshop and production organised to date? Do you have collaborators to assist you?
Our workshop is organised for certain processes, which are carried out using high-precision machinery, while assembly, finishing and painting are done exclusively by hand. We have about ten co-workers who help us.
What is your philosophy, and the secret to keeping the quality of your work high?
Our philosophy is to maintain the craftsmanship of the workmanship, the quality of the handmade work, according to the tradition we belong to, and which we have been preserving and carrying on for years. We believe in the importance of using woods that come from reforestation, respecting the environment that surrounds us, and to create objects with a contemporary design and inspiration.
What production steps and techniques do you employ?
The production steps are multiple: the process of creating an object starts with the cutting of solid wood, continue with veneering, then with the assembly of the elements, and finally manual sanding and painting or waxing by hand.
You often collaborate with designers. What is the added value of involving a designer in the realisation of a piece?
The collaboration with designers is fundamental, especially with the younger ones: it is always an opportunity for growth, and it stimulates us to experiment with new combinations of materials. Infact, wood is still the main material, but it can be combined with artistic glass, precious fabrics, but also with different types of wood and steel.
"Homo Faber", an important exhibition dedicated to high craftsmanship, which took place in Venice in September, recently ended. Fondazione Cologni curated "In Città", a collateral initiative that opened the doors of Venetian craft workshops to the public. In addition to embellishing the starred restaurant Local with your tableware, you also joined the network of participating workshops of “In Città”. Did you organise anything special for this occasion?
We consider Homo Faber to be a unique event that transforms the city of Venice for a whole month, creating the ideal environment to attract visitors from all over the world, who appreciate high craftsmanship and handmade products like ours. We have joined the Homo Faber “In Città” programme, by offering workshops and opening our atelier to curious visitors in search of a different experience. Our desire is to help the public visiting Venice understand that, in addition to being a city rich in history and rare beauty, it is also vibrant and full of crafters who work every day with passion and dedication, in order to create unique and well-made products.
