Success stories
sideboard or wood panelling which exalts manual skill, remains priceless a sophisticated and exclusive product. Over the years, Marco Belloni, together with his craftsmen, has directed and personally supervised the production of the furnishings for entire five-star hotels (from the Excelsior in Rome to the Savoy in Zurich) and incredible villas, such as Sylvester Stallone’s house in Miami or, in more recent years, fabulous private residences in St. Petersburg and the Emirates, where he worked for over two years, furnishing a 17,000-square-metre palace in the middle of the desert. Traditionally specialised in period furnishings executed with formal perfection and expertise, the company has also developed more contemporary products, where design and experimentation with new materials come into play, resulting in collections like “Le Gemme”, in collaboration with Swarovski, and “Subliminal”, in which the most refined and exclusive production techniques are combined with outstanding materials. At present, the company is experimenting with a finish in liquid titanium which pushes research to the most extreme limits… But the thrill of admiring the stunning carvings in the natural lime
wood used for a sideboard or wood panelling, where the skill of the hand shines through in the generous volutes of leaves, flowers, garlands and shells, remains matchless. An astonishing and all-encompassing display of the savoir-faire of these master artisans is Teatro Antonio Belloni, which Marco built in Barlassina, in what was once the seat of the family business. A dream he nurtured for many years as a music enthusiast, the opera in particular, and that he literally made with his own hands and dedicated to his father. The discovery of this unique and enchanting place is moving. Beyond the elegant foyer, the small gem of a theatre features a neoclassical layout, seating one hundred spectators between the stalls, the eight boxes set out on two tiers and the box of honour. They afford a unique view of the performance, thanks to the intimate and captivating atmosphere and outstanding acoustics. Every detail of this masterpiece has been decorated with great care, from the wonderful wood carvings of the hall to the elegant dressing rooms for the performers. For eight years, Mar-
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co Belloni, his son Giovanni and their craftsmen - more than fifty artisans, including cabinet makers, carpenters, plasterers, decorators, builders and electricians - have dedicated their free time to accomplish this feat. Marco Belloni modestly prefers not to talk about the costs, clearly enormous and all borne by the family. “We have been quite reckless,” he says, and changes the subject. Since 2010, the management of all activities has been entrusted to the Cultural Association of the Teatro Antonio Belloni, with the aim of promoting music and drama and becoming a major cultural pole in the region. Since its opening, the theatre has presented a rich programme of operas - Cavalleria Rusticana, Tosca and the Barber of Seville – as well as baroque and choral music, jazz concerts, musicals and plays. The entire family is personally involved in the theatre’s activities, and they never miss a performance …. It is a great challenge, but when the lights are dimmed, the star-studded ceiling is lit (1,600 optical fibres which Giovanni fitted by hand, one by one) and the curtains go up, it is easy to imagine how moved and proud this family must be: a family which gives a wonderful example of entrepreneurship that is “good and fair”.
Top left, all the production processes are carried out inside the company, where craftsmanship is of the highest standards. Right, a sumptuous Baroque-style table, with a magnificent top featuring a detailed intarsia of floral motifs.
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