Find out why the Renaissance city of Florence is so important for the history of Italian craftsmanship

In the middle of the 11th century, craft guilds began to form in Florence, which were to be at the center of the city's political, cultural and artistic development in the following centuries. By the 1300s, the city of Florence was already renowned for the production of leather, both for the quality of the tanning and for the quality of the art objects. Today, if you are looking for unique and high-quality leather products, you should visit the historic Misuri shop in Florence, where the old techniques are still alive.

What does Italian craftsmanship exactly mean

Florence is the city of ancient craftsmanship, where the profession of artisan is a way of life. This means that quality always takes precedence over quantity, where art is passed down from generation to generation and where details are never overlooked. Time is a tool to improve details of a product. Craftsmanship is about respecting the past, keeping the process and history alive.

This is exactly what has been happening in Florence for centuries, and this is exactly what the Misuri leather goods shop does, where attention is paid to detail and quality materials. Misuri knows that through quality and skill they can meet the tastes of discerning customers. Proof of this is the Kelly bag named after Grace Kelly. The leather bag made of vegetable tanned leather is made of fourteen hand-sewn leather panels, making it a true masterpiece of Italian craftsmanship.

Misuri remains faithful to the craftsmanship of Florence

Then as now, Misuri leather goods are made with the utmost care, starting from a meticulous selection of raw materials.

To achieve the best results, the work continues to be done and decorated by hand. In this way, each belt, bag or jacket becomes unique, also through the use of the ancient technique of gilding. The technique of leather gilding is the application of gold leaf under heated brass stamps. This Italian craftsmanship was introduced as early as the 1400s, and at that time was considered exclusively the preferred method of finishing book bindings. Today, any Misuri leather product can be finished with an intricate gold design or personalized initials, whether it be a Zip Billfold, Ladies Silk Lined Pois Gloves, a leather handbag, or of course a book cover. Misuri stays true to tradition and still does the leather gilding by hand.

The Italian craftsmanship of leather tanning is an ancient business

The world of leather goods is closely linked to the history of Florence, as can be seen from the Italian craftsmanship of tanning in this area at the time of the Etruscans. The Etruscans were people who lived between 800 and 350 BC in Italy, which today includes Tuscany, Lazio and Umbria.

The tanning of leather runs through Tuscan and Florentine history to the present day. Misuri uses the finest Italian leathers for all its leather products, which are vegetable tanned, such as the Jennifer bag, which will change color over time. Vegetable tanned leathers are individual and no two are alike. However, natural aging does not in any way affect the product's resistance properties, but gives the leather a kind of antiquity that personalizes the color nuances and is proof that you have purchased a natural product, which will become more beautiful from year to year.

How to buy a masterpiece of Italian craftsmanship

If you are looking for a unique and high quality product in Florence, the birthplace of Italian craftsmanship, come to the artisans of Misuri or shop online. There you will find the right mix of traditional craftsmanship and innovation, reinventing ancient craftsmanship with a modern twist. Because Misuri tries to maintain its artisan spirit by never looking at new technologies as a goal, but always exclusively as tools with which to further refine their art.