Figurines

• Giuseppe Armani 
• Francesco Pinton
• ANRI 
  • ANRI Nativities (see our "Just for You" Page)
• Franco 

Giuseppe Armani

Our shop is proud to be an authorized Armani Dealer, carrying a varied selection of beautiful porcelain figurines by the late Italian sculptor, Giuseppe Armani.  His exquisite creations capture attention and inspire admiration.  Giuseppe passed away suddenly in October 2006, but because he was gifted in a unique and endearing way with "the ability to put character and soul into his works", his presence will remain with us for many years to come. 

Giuseppe the sculptor has left his legacy in the beautiful pieces of art that he lovingly crafted.  Thankfully, he also influenced and guided several generations of young artists who worked with him in the Florence Studio (Florence Sculture d'Arte).  Established in 1973 in the region between Florence and Siena, the Florence Studio stands apart as a vibrant modern-day example of the great Renaissance tradition of renowned masters nurturing the talents of younger artists.

Francesco Pinton

Francesco Pinton is a sculptor in the Reggio-Emilia area of Italy.  He was very interested in drawing when he was a young artist, but later realized his passion to express himself through sculpture.  He works most specifically in porcelain, which he describes as "a very noble and precious material", and attributes his artistic style to the influence that the writings of early Greek philosophers had on him.  Their frequent references to "balance and harmony" expressed exactly what he sought to portray in his works.  "When you find yourself face to face with a masterpiece, in my opinion, it is much better to feel a desire, a push towards peace and serenity."  In his daily life, Francesco places great emphasis on the peaceful practice of contemplation.  As an artist, he can humbly assert:  "My statues are the expression of what I cherish inside."

Francesco produces a unique line of religious figurines.  They stunningly portray a technique that Professor C. Antim (teacher, art critic) has described as "situated between classical style and the synthesis of the modern idea of movement."

ANRI

ANRI figurines are hand-carved and hand-painted in the Groden Valley of the Dolomite Mountains of northern Italy, where the art of woodcarving dates all the way back to the Middle Ages.  The ANRI group itself was founded in 1912, by one of the families that was highly regarded for the very beautiful wood carvings it produced (ANRI is the acronym for the Anton Riffeser family).  Now in its fourth generation, the ANRI Company continues to carry on this cherished tradition.

ANRI woodcarvings are made from tree wood such as linden, maple, etc., which is properly dried, cut, and carefully prepared for use.  Each figurine is delicately carved by hand, and as a result, a remarkable degree of fine detail is able to be achieved.  The hand-carved figurines are then painted by hand with either oil-based paints or water colors (choice will depend on the type of wood used).  The painting is done with great care, so as to "give life" to the figurine.  All along this carefully staged process, the woodcarvings must satisfactorily pass a sequence of quality-control checks.  Only at this point can the ANRI "certificate of guarantee" be affixed, indicating that the finished product has met the ANRI Company's high standards. 

Among the very beautiful and cherished products for which the ANRI Company is well-known are the various Nativity Sets that they have introduced over the years.  Click on our "Just for You" Page, to see more detailed information about these Nativities.    

Franco

Franco woodcarvings are made in the Val Gardena area of northern Italy.  Since the Middle Ages, this valley region has been known for its high-quality products made of hand-carved wood.  Many of the very early products were made for practical use, but there were also a number of early craftsmen who created artistic pieces such as religious statues, nativity figurines, etc.  

The tradition of woodcarving continues in the Val Gardena region to this day.  It is viewed as a modern industry, and also a true art.