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© Bottega Conticelli
© Bottega Conticelli
© Bottega Conticelli
© Bottega Conticelli

Stefano Conticelli

  • Leatherworker
  • Castel Giorgio, Italy
  • Master Artisan
Stefano Conticelli Leatherworker
Contact
Italian, English
Hours:
By appointment only
Phone:
+39 3407941967
Ginevra Formentini © Michelangelo Foundation

When making is an act of love

  • • Stefano likes to experiment, such as by tanning leather with wine
  • • A toy wooden van made for his nephew sparked off his business
  • • In summer, Conticelli works from the beaches of the Emerald Coast

Stefano Conticelli’s story is like a fairytale or a Hollywood movie. It all started after he was swindled out of everything he had, which left him totally desperate. “When I say everything, I mean everything: I lost my job, my car, my house. I had nothing left,” he explains with a smile. Instead of being discouraged, Conticelli accepted the humblest of jobs. “I used to vent my creativity in my free time. I have always had good manual skills. With the wood discarded from vines, which is normally used to light fires, I started to craft small objects that I would sell in street markets: frames, mirrors, toys.”

Read the full interview

Works

  • © Bottega Conticelli
  • © Bottega Conticelli
  • © Bottega Conticelli
  • © Bottega Conticelli
  • © Bottega Conticelli
Photo: © Bottega Conticelli
Isabelle

Isabelle is Bottega Conticelli’s distinctive icon, an emblem that has accompanied the workshop all through its constant evolution and features on most of its production. However, it is not only a logo on a leather label, but also a real rocking horse.

Height 22 cm
Length 27 cm

Photo: © Bottega Conticelli
Vespa Montiano

The legendary Vespa has been masterfully dressed and personalised with specially treated leather by Bottega Conticelli. Crafted from cuoio ubriaco or “drunken leather” – vegetable leather tanned in red wine for 28 days and left to rest in oak barrels, the covering can be completely removed from the motor scooter if required. The pannier bags are made from natural leather protected by a water repellent.

Photo: © Bottega Conticelli
Ladies’ bicycle

The customised Bottega Conticelli bicycle made its first appearance in Milan during the Triennale Design Week in 2014. The frame is covered with tanned vegetable leather and hand-finished with characteristic visible waxed cotton stitching: blanket stitch for the ladies’ model and saddle stitch for the men’s model. The colour of the lining leather can be chosen on order. Bags, baskets and baby seats can be added.

Height 24 cm

Photo: © Bottega Conticelli
Papaya Cesta

The customised Bottega Conticelli bicycle made its first appearance in Milan during the Triennale Design Week in 2014. The frame is covered with tanned vegetable leather and hand-finished with characteristic visible waxed cotton stitching: blanket stitch for the ladies’ model and saddle stitch for the men’s model. The colour of the lining leather can be chosen on order. Bags, baskets and baby seats can be added.

Height 89.5 cm
Length 56.4 cm

Photo: © Bottega Conticelli
Vespa in cuoio vegetale

Respecting its distinctive lines, the legendary Vespa has been dressed and personalised with treated vegetable leather. The covering can be completely removed if required. The pannier bags are crafted from natural leather and protected with a water repellent. The burgundy colouring of the leather was obtained by tanning it in red wine for 28 days.

Height 80 cm
Length 192 cm

Enjoy an experience with Stefano Conticelli

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