Materials
Our collections are constantly being updated and include ladies and men’s jewelry boxes and armoires, games, cigar humidors, watch cases, pen boxes, and stationery items. Our entire production is crafted from exotic and domestic woods in a variety of finishes, from natural to very high polish. All hardware is 24 Karats Gold, Ruthenium or Nickel Palladium plated.
Our precious veneers have a different story: Wood used for wooden jewellery boxes, chests, case, safe and armoire For istance, the elm trees, pictured, have unusual growth characteristics caused by a “disease”. The wood from these trees, when properly opened and cut in slices, give us that rich combination of tonality and design that we call briarwood. Finding trees that carry this “disease” is very rare (about one in one-hundred fifty), and the tough selection in choosing only the best of these naturally “drawn” veneers, dramatically reduce the usable quantities. The thin slice is then glued on a poplar panel, laminated with 12 layers in opposite directions to prevent warping. We work with Elm briarwood mostly, but several other woods have their briars: LIGHT (Ash, Myrtle), DARK (Walnut, Vavona) similar to Elm (Madrona). It is very important to stress the fact that, in recent years, faux woods have appeared in the marketplace. None of these fake reproductions, however, often sold as real, can begin to replace the beauty or the feel of the natural woods themselves.
In 1949, right in the historical center of Florence, the heart of the renaissance , Pia and Osvaldo Agresti opened their small “Bottega”. One room filled with ideas and optimism. Today, 60 years later, our ultra modern manufacturing facility, equipped with the latest technology, carries on the tradition, born those many years ago quality, elegance, innovation.
Every year, we create new and improved designs, to complement our tried and true styles, that have become heirloom pieces passed from generation to generation. The process of producing an Agresti jewel chest is detailed and exacting, and it all starts with the selection of exotic and well seasoned woods ebony, boubinga, wenge, briarwood.
An expert eye chooses these wild woods for their richness, tonality and character. Artisans prepare the raw woods for production with the help of computer controlled machines. Glueing by machine and hand adjusts the corners and levels. The thin veneer surface is now carefully filled with stucco, sanded and sprayed with this process being repeated over and over until the surface is smooth and the finish is radiant.
The soft ultrasuede lining is now measured, cut and glued by hand. In the final difficult step experienced artisans assemble the different parts, matching color shades and natural characteristics with ruthenium or gold plated hardware that accentuates the beauty of the wood. The second, and now third generation of Agresti’s strive to continue the tradition of excellence established in 1949.
Our enthusiasm to create unusual designs coupled with a curiosity for the newest in manufacturing technology, allows us to present a collection of jewel chests and armoires, safes, watch chests and gifts, of which we are all very proud. Our hope at Agresti is that you, our customer, enjoy our work and we cordially invite you to visit our manufacturing plant, or as we say in Florence, our “Laboratorio”!
Thank you
