Seravezza – ARTCO srl, Marble Workshop

8th MAY 2019

Seravezza is a small town at the base of the mountainous region of the Alpi Apuana between the Garfagnana and the Versilia, part of Tuscany’s coastline near Lucca. Running through the town is the river Versilia that is fed by two mountain streams the Serra and the Vezza, names derived from the town of Seravezza itself.

La Villa Medicea di Seravezza was built on the wishes of Cosimi I de’Medici, grand duke of Tuscany and consisted of a palazzo, stables, a small chapel and formal gardens. Its purpose was as a summer residence for the Medici, due to their frequent visits to the famous, financially and artistically important, marble caves and silver mines nearby.

After centuries of refurbishments and uses, the villa complex acquired by the commune now houses an art gallery, library and exhibition spaces in the palazzo and a marble workshop and exhibition centre in the old stable area and ferriera (ironworks) adjacent to the road and river.

Since 1999, the old ironworks and marble cutting area that used to cut marble by using waterpower, is now run by ARTCO, an Italian company set up by Cynthia Sah and Nicolas Bertoux in 1998. Together and often in collaboration with others, they produce huge sculptures and monumental works in marble.  

Nicolas Bertoux generously spent some time showing myself and friends around the workshop area where a substantial quantity of large sculptures were in progress using modern diamond-edged cutting apparatus.

Looking closely at the works in progress gave an insight into the skill and precision required and the care taken to smooth and oil the finished work that gives the sculptures their beautiful shine and lustre.

At ground floor level and below was a huge, brick-vaulted cavernous area 100 meters long, that is now a beautifully lit display area for organised events and training courses. Within this cellar area were old hydraulic lifts, millraces and even ancient fishponds that used to draw water and fish from the river Vezza to service the Medici kitchens.  

Interestingly, Nicolas showed us the geometric patterns and ‘off-cuts’ or negatives that are, at first, by-products of the main sculpture but are reused as further works of art in themselves. Being such an expensive material, little is wasted, and smaller off cuts are fashioned into saleable products and souvenirs

Needless to say, the experience was very rewarding and the owners friendly and informative approach makes it a thoroughly recommended excursion.