Tettamanti Gallery: handcrafted frames, paintings and restoration

In my exciting journey to discover the territory and its artistic and natural beauties, an increasingly important part revolves around the enhancement of local activities.

Thus was born the collaboration with Galleria Tettamanti, a historic artisan reality in the heart of Menaggio, on Lake Como.

Hi, I’m Marta, Local Blogger from Lake Como! Discover the lake with my local Pocket Guide!

A historic store of handcrafted frames on Lake Como

From 1969 to today

The family business, carried on with passion by Bruno and Lorella, was founded in 1969 by their father Luigi, a carpenter, originally from Cantù, who specialized over the years in the art of picture frames.

Starting in the 1980s, the craftsmanship and restoration activities were joined by the gallery business, on which the Tettamanti brothers bet a lot, so much so that between ’94 and 2000, they also organized numerous exhibitions and events within their store.

Today the main activity consists of making customizable handcrafted frames. But crossing the threshold of their store, one soon realizes that there is also so much more to be found there.

Handcrafted frames, but not only

If you don’t know what they are all about, upon entering their place the first feeling you get is that of being in a real art gallery. And indeed that is how they welcome you, with a large room dedicated to displaying paintings and various objects.

On the walls, and thus for sale, are:

• period paintings
• original paintings
• fine art serigraphs
• antique and modern prints
• custom prints
• reproductions on canvas

And it is precisely the latter that are their best-selling product, made on print canvases, 75% cotton and 25% polyester, from a photograph. Definitely a good compromise, not to give up the pleasure of a beautiful picture hanging on the walls of the house, at an affordable cost.

But could the lake have been missing? Of course not! A special section is devoted to original paintings depicting Lake Como and some of its most beautiful views.

Artists “in the gallery” include Vincent Alran, Luca Bellaudi, Lorenzo Crivellaro and Luigi Florio, among others.

Taking a tour of their store is first and foremost an experience in contact with art and beauty.

The restoration workshop

In fact, the gallery is “only” a part of their store, and as you wander through the display of paintings you cannot ignore the background noise typical of the kind of work that you have to use tools and implements to do.

In fact, from the gallery you enter the workshop, the beating heart of their business. It is here that the more artisanal soul of this historic store takes center stage: Bruno, who specializes in leaf lasting, makes the handcrafted frames and restores furniture, while Lorella restores paintings and works of art.

Special services they offer that can always come in handy include chair stuffing, glass replacement, and the production of custom, framed mirrors. Some models are displayed on a wall in the store to help you choose from shapes and frames of every style.

And so, while they are busy working, they tell me about how customers’ tastes and needs have changed over the years and how important it is to keep up and renew all the time. And I can tell you that they are very good at that, too.

The art of communicating

The passion toward the work they hand down and the attention to detail in what they create are not the only aspects that have allowed them to grow and become known over the years. Bruno and Lorella are also very capable of telling their stories and communicating with their audience.

Technology and new communication tools do not frighten them; on the contrary, they are their best allies and so, thanks also to new ideas, they keep their range of customers alive.

Their paintings can also be purchased on an e-commerce platform, and to promote individual aspects of their business Bruno continuously experiments with different communication channels: he opened a YouTube channel, several social channels, two thematic blogs, and a profile on TripAdvisor.

Perhaps the most original idea was to set up a book-crossing spot right outside their store, also signing up for the official network of this increasingly rampant phenomenon. Those who go there to browse through the books will surely also be intrigued by the myriad shapes and colors glimpsed through their window!

INFO

Galleria Tettamanti, Via per Loveno, 9 – Menaggio

Tel. +39 0344 32480 – Website: galleriatettamanti

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