Alchimia school of contemporary jewelry was founded in 1998 in Florence, Italy by Lucia Massei and Doris Maninger. The school is based in the Oltrarno part of Florence, a district of fine artisans’ workshops since Medieval times. This setting is important for a school that has among its goals to connect learning and knowledge about traditional goldsmithing techniques with research and experimentation on both materials and the conceptual substrate of the creative process.
Florence, one of the main symbols of the 'Made in Italy' approach, has in fact always been a synonym of top artistic and artisan quality, conjugating the highest aspects of artistic concepts with the finest execution capabilities. Lying on this cultural and 'physical' landscape, the school aims at pursuing the goal to have the goldsmith’s art regain that artistic and intellectual impetus that it upheld during the Renaissance. In fact, during that time the artisan was a fully fledged artist, frequently being also a sculptor or engineer or architect. There was no difference between 'hand' and 'mind,' between the inventor and the executioner.
The choice of running a school of small dimensions (not more than twelve students per course) and completely private is a guarantee for rapid decisions and swift updates, maximum didactic quality and minimal bureaucracy, aspects that give further strength to the school and that differentiate it vis-à-vis other schools, whether public or private.
The school’s name, Alchimia, was chosen for its symbolism and suggestions: the ancient discipline between science and philosophy, the ancestor of chemistry, from which to draw in order to transform the 'worthless' into the 'highest quality' by intent, craftsmanship, fantasy and enthusiasm.
In a metaphorical sense the alchemic component plays a very important role in the guidelines and the teaching of the school, as what are being 'worked' are also valuable materials, though with the aim of having the creative element prevail. Together with being an innovation lab, Alchimia has established itself from the beginning as a place to preserve traditional goldsmithing techniques. One of the building blocks of the school's teaching philosophy is that true innovation has to be supported by a deep understanding and usage of history and tradition. The teaching method, fine tuned over the last twelve years, confirms the goodness of the initial choices, as students develop strong technical skills guided by a capacity to elaborate artistic concepts and their own creative language.
Alchimia has quickly established itself as a major point of reference for contemporary jewelry-making both in Italy and in Europe. The school attracts students from all over the world, who follow both full academic courses and intensive modules. More than 30 international artisan-goldsmiths, art historians, gallery owners and collectors have run courses and seminars over the years.
The choice of focusing on the quality of materials, equipment, teachers and staff and in particular on the students in their individual nature has been the winning factor for the school. The importance of generating the right atmosphere between teachers and students has in fact produced results of a very high quality, with peaks of excellence made evident by many international prize acknowledgements. Every year Alchimia organizes shows, seminars and workshops in Italy and abroad and takes part in international fairs.
In September 2010 the school moved to the new premises in Piazza Piattellina and is guided by professor Ruudt Peters. Both facts have brought about some substantial changes; much more space and comfort and a dynamic impulse from Professor Peters.
For more information visit Alchimia’s website.
The Staff
Peter Bauhuis
Doris Maniger
Lucia Massei
Ruudt Peters
