L'Italo-Americano

r e p u r p o s e d i n 1 9 8 6 , i t b e c a m e t h e s t a g e , o n t h e ground floor, for ten thou- sands antique pieces up for sale; on the top floor, it left space for a workshop where artisans and artists can do their manual work; and, in the basement, it allowed for a r o o m w i t h f u r n i t u r e a n d other articles yet to be catego- rized. Mr Mariani works with the best designers in town, espe- cially those who understand antiques, thanks to, what he calls, the backbone of the business: "Our success comes from our ability of finding, fixing, and restoring pieces that nobody wants anymore. M o s t o f t h e m c o m e f r o m Italy, they were either found in old villas, or came from private collectors and home- owners who are no longer interested in those objects. I know lots of people in the industry, they call me directly to see if I have room for more furniture, like tables, chairs, sideboards, and other stuff. Most likely, the answer is positive." M r M a r i a n i e m p l o y s around twenty among arti- sans, artists, woodworkers, "I am a third generation restorer, I learned it from my family and I still use the same e x a c t p r o d u c t s , l i k e t h e b e e s w a x , a n d t e c h n i q u e s used in Europe, especially Italy and France, during the 18th century. When in San Francisco, my late brother Antonio and I were importing all these beautiful objects, like chandeliers, statues, cabi- nets. In some cases, I was asked to try bringing them back to their original beauty. Fast forward, the chance to do the two things, discovering r ar e pieces and r estor ing them, appeared. I did not hesitate and moved ahead to create my own business". His expertise in recognizing the value and the worth of each single piece allowed him to take a step into the industry the way he is today known and recognized. People reach out to Mr Mariani so he can verify authenticity, determine the value, and do an overall estimate of antiques and col- lectibles. The big building, spanning over 33,000 square-foot in t h e S a n F r a n c i s c o SOMA/Design District, was once much smaller; when upholsterers. Visiting the workshop is an experience of its own: we got the elevator, the same used for furniture and big packages, to the top floor. That's where a new world opened up. First thing you'll notice, a lot of chairs, different from one another, hanging on the ceiling: "Every time a client orders ten chairs, I make eleven and the spare one goes up there. This way, I can give my next customers ideas on similar items and customize them". We walked around and met all the employees who just started the after- noon shift. Each of them has their own station, where they carve wood, paint furniture, make upholstery and furni- t u r e c o v e r i n g , a n d b u i l d p i e c e s f r o m s c r a t c h . W e stopped at the wood making station, where Mario, the wood expert, is looking at drawings on a big table, on one side, and mockups on the other. His work starts with an initial piece of paper from the designer; then he makes a scale model so the client can see the proportions and the look of each part of the furni- t u r e . O n c e a p p r o v e d , h e builds the styrofoam model so the team can have another look together, before going into building it. The whole process may take up to a few months, however it's crucial to get it right, in each small detail. M r M a r i a n i k n o w s a l l employees by name and their personal story. He checks on their work with a smile and makes sure they have all they need. While managing exter- nal relationships and building partnerships with designers and homeowners, he also takes care of the business and the people. He knows how important it is to not only sell customers a rare piece that they will love to display in their house, but also to give them an authentic experience s o t h e y c a n g e t c l o s e a n d learn about the manual work behind it. It's not by accident t h a t b o t h C . M a r i a n i A n t i q u e s ' e m p l o y e e s a n d clients have stuck around for decades. And that's one thing, among many others, Claudio Mariani can be proud of. H o n o r , i n L i n c o l n P a r k , which includes collections of European decorative arts and paintings, ancient art, and has one of the largest collec- tions of prints and drawings in the country. For Mr Mariani, the par- ticipation as an exhibitor was a dream come true. When, a few years ago, Show Chair Suzanne Tucker gave him a call asking to join the event, it all came full circle. From the early days working with his father and grandfather in the Italian town of Taranto, in Puglia; his studies at Flo- rence's Accademia di Belle Arti; the Mariani brothers' d e a l e r s h i p i n t h e 1 9 6 0 s where he learned it all about A m e r i c a a n d A m e r i c a n s ' tastes; the small shop on Jackson street where a few other antique shops once e x i s t e d , a l l t h e w a y i n t o becoming one of the most prominent antiques shops in the US. A restorer, a craftsman, and an expert: Claudio Mari- ani is three-in-one and the focus on all parts of the job is e q u a l l y d i s t r i b u t e d a n d reflected in the vibe of the showroom. W a l k i n g i n t o C . Mariani Antiques feels like stepping into a museum, a gallery or - simply put - a place full of history, crafts- manship, and beauty. Clau- dio Mariani welcomes us to his San Francisco showroom wearing what has become his own statement of profession- alism and dedication: black t r o u s e r s a n d a b l u e w o r k apron, with the name of the business sewed in yellow. " T h e s e a r e b u s y , c r a z y days," Mr Mariani immedi- ately said, as we looked for a spot to sit for the interview. "We are getting ready for the San Francisco Fall Show next week; it's the third time we are part of it as exhibitors. Expectations are high, so is the excitement." What Mr Mariani was referring to is the leading international art, antiques, and design fair on the West Coast that will take place in San Francisco Octo- ber 17-20 at Fort Mason, with an opening Gala and preview on October 16th. Founded in 1982, the show features over forty of the top dealers from around the world, offering fine and decorative arts rep- resenting all styles and peri- ods. It's considered one of the most important events in the world, with people coming from everywhere to look and, potentially, buy something rare among paintings, furni- ture, precious metals, ceram- ics, jewelry, rugs, photogra- phy, works on paper, books, ethnographic art, and objets d ' a r t . T h e s h o w i s a l s o a fundraising opportunity ben- efitting the Enterprise for High School Students non profit. The San Francisco Fall Show is partnering with the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF), w h i c h o v e r s e e s t w o w e l l k n o w n m u s e u m s : t h e d e Y o u n g i n G o l d e n G a t e Park,which showcases collec- tions of American art from the 17th through the 20th centuries, textile arts, and art of Africa, Oceania, and the A m e r i c a s ; t h e L e g i o n o f Claudio Mariani is a restorer, a craftsman, and an expert of antique objects he finds in Italy and sells in the US (Photo: Serena Perfetto) C. Mariani Antiques, a museum-like shop of historical collectibles where time stands still SERENA PERFETTO THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 32 L'Italo-Americano SAN FRANCISCO ITALIAN COMMUNITY

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