Le Arti Orafe

School / Design Making ComputerTechnologies Technics Theory ProfessionalPractice SchoolsDegreeShow2015

Published: 18.06.2018

: Le Arti Orafe. Via dei Serragli 104
50124 - Florence
ITALY

: Website Le Arti Orafe

Mail:: infoartiorafe.it

Phone:: +39 055 22 80 131

Management:: Giò Carbone

LAO - Le Arti Orafe Jewellery School, Florence
An educational project.

Established in 1985 by Giò Carbone, LAO was the first Italian school devoted to the study of jewellery culture, and to the contemporary practice in jewellery creation, and since the very beginning has encouraged and promoted a learning process emphasizing technical and professional skills, combined with artistic research and contemporary design.

The concept of jewellery has evolved in surprising ways since the Seventies of the XX century, with the advent of artists and goldsmiths who conducted their research.
The contemporary vision has broken into the jewellery world, shaking it from its old and “dusty” image.
The methods, the processes, the functions, the meanings and the social use of jewels, the way of teaching and learning about jewellery have deeply changed, together with its instruments and communication, and since its foundation LAO has been a reference for this constant evolution.

Through and thanks to the didactic activities, LAO brought in Italy the study and the acquaintance of contemporary jewellery research, primarily through our original and innovative teaching method, and in parallel with an intense cultural activity, since the 80s covered the organization of meetings and conferences, exhibitions, workshops with international artists and creators, so as to realize a favourable environment for the diffusion of study tools that up that moment had no any space in Italy.

This pioneering work has created the conditions for the diffusion and knowledge of contemporary jewellery in Italy, for the formation of goldsmiths with an innovative vision, and has served as an example for many small schools that have begun to be founded here and there in Italy since the late '90.

Educational Programs and courses
Studying, learning, experimenting without limits or boundaries

In the early ‘80s the jewellery companies and crafts studios were beginning a renewal process, but there were no jewellery schools in Italy to support and integrate this big change.

LAO was set up to respond to the need for training felt in many areas, and provided an innovative vision of the notions and techniques of jewellery creation.

LAO invented and experimented with a training programme that put the stress on anti-conventional reworking of traditional procedures and techniques, combining the knowledge of artisan practices with contemporary concepts, exploring the creative use of traditional materials and introducing other, completely innovative ones.

This teaching method soon became a model, and rewarded with the arrival in Florence of hundreds of students from all over the world.
Nowadays the school is one of the most important in Europe, it is an Accredited European Training Agency, and an Authorized entity for Erasmus projects.

History, Facilities, Installations
Living and studying in Florence, the most famous art city in the world.

Since 1985 LAO have its headquarters in the very heart of Florence, in the Santo Spirito/San Frediano historic and artistic district, which still retains its own character and offers visitors and residents an intense human experience.
The school have 5 beautiful and full equipped workshops, and 5 classrooms for design, CAD, gemmology and theoretical lessons. A very rich library had been set up along the year, with a huge number of books and catalogues on jewellery and applied arts.

Students
Hundreds of students of all ages and from over the world have come to our school. Our students (approximately 60 every year) come from all over the world: this meeting of different cultures and traditions creates the best possible environment for profitable periods of study which often give rise to lasting friendships and future working relationships.

Jewellery Making courses
* Apart of the huge list of arguments and technical advises for the realization of individual jewels, the jewellery making practical lessons includes wax modelling, enamelling, introduction to hand-engraving and stone setting, and the following technical and creative workshops leads by Giò Carbone.
These workshops are included in the second year jewellery making course, or could be followed as short workshop.

Mokume-Gane for small workshop;
The practice and the use of Niello;
Married metals
The use of gold leaf on silver surfaces (Kumbo);
Nunome Zogan and other form of inlaid;
Introduction to repoussé and chiselling;
Surfaces decoration;
Cuttlebone creative casting;
The realization of different kind of clasps and mechanisms;
Non-permanent union in jewellery (riveting and screwing)

Other Courses
Academic Courses (one to three years)
The school offers its students the opportunity to combine two or three courses together. The total rate of an academic course is blocked and then not subject to the annual increase of the single courses. This special formula gives the students the opportunity to achieve a more complete training in a relatively short time.

Courses for groups
These courses have a duration which varies from one to four weeks and are exclusively for groups of students coming from the same country and speaking the same language.
The contents of the courses can be discussed with the group, and lessons can be in Italian or in the language of the groups, with the help of an interpreter.

Flash courses
LAO also organizes “Flash” courses: very short courses on specific subjects, in the week end and/or in the evening hours.

Link to the course calendar 2018-2019

Link to summer academy 2018

A cultural project: PREZIOSA Contemporary Jewellery
LAO has always stood out because of its activities in promoting jewellery culture, and since many years organizes exhibitions, conferences, meetings related with contemporary research jewellery.

LAO has introduced in Italy the knowledge and exploration of contemporary jewellery, not only in the educational field but also with the collateral initiatives that characterize this unique school.
Since its founding LAO has managed events, invited internationally renowned artists for lectures and conferences, organized exhibitions, and promoted the spread of instruments of study and knowledge that previously had no place in Italy.

From 2000 to 2005 LAO has been managing the first art gallery dedicated to jewellery in Florence, with the presentation of significant exhibitions and important artists, some of whom never appeared before in Italy, as for example Terhi Tolvanen, Xavier Monclús, Nel Linssen, Yanna Syvanöja, Hellen Britton, Jacqueline Ryan, and the Italians Anna Maria Zanella, Giovanni Corvaja, Giampaolo Babetto, Maria Rosa Franzin, Carla Riccoboni.

In 2005, once again with a genius intuition and the of enthusiastic people, we decided to make a leap forward, with the launch of the PREZIOSA exhibition project.
PREZIOSA was the first Italian exhibition project repeated all long the years with regularity, and since 2008 with the collateral contest/exhibition “PREZIOSA YOUNG” www.preziosa.org

Artists, who takes part to PREZIOSA, and other designers, teachers, critics, with wich the school had or have cooperation for lecturers, long-term courses, workshops, exhibitons, projects.
Jivan Astfalck, Giampaolo Babetto, Robert Baines, Gijs Bakker, Friedrich Becker, Noam Ben–Jacov, Helen Britton, David Bielander, Frédéric Braham, Sigurd Bronger, Sebastian Buescher, Peter Chang, Bifei Cao, Giovanni Corvaja, Johanna Dahm, Georg Dobler, Andi Gut, Naomi Filmer, Nora Fok, Karl Fritsch, Sophie Hanagarth, Yasuki Hiramatsu, Mari Ishikawa, Svenja John, Wang Kezhen, Nel Linssen, Suska Mackert, Kadri Mälk, Stefano Marchetti, Sally Marsland, Bruno Martinazzi, Xavier Monclús, Mimì Moscow, Eija Mustonen, Erico Nagai, Evert Nijland, Ted Noten, Renzo Pasquale, Francesco Pavan, Ruudt Peters, Mario Pinton, Annelies Planteijdt, Katja Prins, Mah Rana, Gerd Rothmann, Jacqueline Ryan, Philip Sajet, Marjorie Schick, Karin Seufert, Peter Skubic, Vera Siemund, Janna Syvänoja, Tanel Veenre, Graziano Visintin, Lisa Walker, David Watkins, Annamaria Zanella, Christoph Zellweger, Wang Zhenghong, Petra Holscher, Inger Wästberg, Martina Dempf, Maria Cristina Bergesio, Roberta Bernabei, Maria Laura La Mantia, Shruti Agrawal, Kevin Murray, Fuchi Arata, Tasso Mattar, Sibylle Umlauf, Danni Schwaag, Erik Tidäng, Lena Jerström, Tobias Birgersson, Klara Eriksson, Petronella Eriksson, Pernilla Sylwan, Maki Okamoto, Sally Collins, Eva Franceschini, Sina Emrich, Fuchi Arata, Daniela Hedman, Mirjam Hiller, Vaishali Ashok Morjaria, Kathryn Partington, Claudia Rinneberg, Sonja Christine Seidl, Julia Walter, Daniel Di Caprio, Estela Vilanova Saez, Lisa Grassivaro, Nora Rochel, Pia Pasalk, Sharon Massey, Taisuke Nakada, Tamsin Leighton-Boyce, Melissa Cameron, Eve Cheryl, Yoshie Enda, Adam Grinovich, Monica Haneckova, Erin Keys, Sooyeon Kim, Sachiko Shouji, Sam Hamilton, Hanna Hedman, Lisa Juen, Heejoo Kim, Seul-Gi Kwon, Marie Pendariès, Elena Ruebel, Wan Hee Cho, Rob Elford, Benedikt Fischer, Panjapol Kulpapangkorn, Chiara Scarpitti, Antje Stolz, Lauren Vanessa Tickle, Sang Deok Han, Jie Sun, Tithi Kutchamuch, Seoyeon Lee, Fang Jin Yeh, Qian Wang, Shachar Cohen, Xiaodai Huang, Anahita Anasseri, Ashkan Behjou, Atoosa Mokhaberi, Baharak Omidfar, Beaina Minasvand, Ghazaleh Nasseri, Mahnaz Seyed Ekhtiary, Mehrnoosh Ganji, Narges Asadinejad, Nikoo Nooriyan, Niloofar Naadi, Saiedeh Davoudi, Shahrzad Aliyari Maleki, Sharmagh Eskandarian.

Teachers

Some artists, designers, teachers with wich the school had or have cooperations for lecturers, longterm courses, workshops, exhibitons, projects.
Jivan Astfalck, Giampaolo Babetto, Robert Baines, Edith Bellod, Gijs Bakker, Noam Ben-Jacov, David Bielander, Frédéric Braham, Erhard Brepohl, Helen Britton, Monica Brugger, Sebastian Buescher, Christophe Burger, Peter Chang, Giovanni Corvaja, Georg Dobler, Diana Dudek, Naomi Filmer, Maria Rosa Franzin, Karl Fritsch, Yasuki Hiramatsu, Claudia Hoppe, Mari Ishikawa, Svenja John, Gilles Joneman, Susanne Klemm, Helfried Kodrè, Nel Linssen, Kadri Mälk,Stefano Marchetti, Sally Marsland, Bruno Martinazzi, Ellen Maurer-Zilioli, Marlene Mckibbin, Andrea Mizzau, Xavier Monclús, Eija Mustonen, Erico Nagai, Ted Noten, Francesco Pavan, Ruudt Peters, Mario Pinton, Annelies Planteijdt, Katja Prins, Ramon Puig Cuyàs, Mah Rana, Claudia Rinnenberg, Jacqueline Ryan, Maria Grazia Rodi, Carla Riccoboni, Gerd Rothmann, Ruggero Sandini, Marjorie Schick, Barbara Schmidt, Vera Siemund, Peter Skubic, Ralph Stautner, Sabine Strobel, Janna Syvanoja, Tehri Tolvanen, Barbara Uderzo, Felieke Van Der Leest, Tanel Veenre, Graziano Visintin, Lisa Walker, Annamaria Zanella, Christoph Zellweger, David Watkins.

Conditions

How to Enrol:
1- Open the "enrolment form" page and follow the instructions. All the section of the form must be filled completely.
2- In order to complete the enrollment, the student must send by fax or by e-mail to the school's secretariat office a copy of the payment receipt od the first installment for the chosen course (1.200,00 Euro for three-month, six-month, one year courses. 2.000,00 Euro for two-three year courses or 50% of the total amount for intensive courses and workshops).
Upon receipt of the enrolment form and the fax with the receipt of payment, the school secretary will confirm the enrolment and send you an enromlent certificate, and also:
- The certificate of registration;
- The documentation for obtaining a student visa;
- The list of tools for personal use;
- Information on apartments and rooms that can be rented through the school;
- The school rules to be signed;
- Deadlines for payment of instalments.

Following payments:
For three-month/three year courses the remaining amount will be paid in different instalments, according to the terms set forth by the school's secretariat office which will be forwarded to the student together with the "enrolment confirmation".
For intensive courses and workshops the balance of the attendance fee must be paid during the first week of lessons, following the school's instructions.

Cancellations
All cancellations that reach the school by registered mail not later than 30 days before the beginning of the course, will be entitled to a 50% refund of the dues paid, apart of the banking or postal fees. Beyond this deadline, no reimbursement is anticipated

Payment
To enrol, payment must be done by bank transfer to LAO srl, in one of the follow banks:

BANCO POPOLARE
Piazza Davanzati, 3
50123 Firenze
Account n° 136267
IBAN: IT67B0503402801000000136267
SWIFT: BAPPIT21N25

Or:

CHIANTI BANCA
Piazza Arti e Mestieri, 1
50020 San Casciano Val di Pesa (Firenze)
Account n° 8605
IBAN: IT65G0867338050020000008605
BIC/SWIFT: ICRAITRRIP0

Payments may also be done on-line (PayPal sicure system), as per the instruction in the Enrolment Form

School's Diplomas, Certificates of attendance, Recognized Diplomas.
Courses recognized by the Province of Florence
The certificates of qualification shall be issued by the Competent Authority after passing the exams, which is accessed by a vote of at least 60/100esimi admission, and frequency of at least 90% of lessons in all subjects.

For all other courses
The school issues a School Diploma for practical-theoretical courses, based on the overall evaluation obtained in different subjects (at least 60/100) and at a frequency of at least 90% of lessons in all subjects. For students who do not meet the standards the school will issue a School certificate showing the overall evaluation and the hours they actually attended.

For practical courses the school will issue a school certificate with overall evaluation and the hours of lessons the student attended

SCHOLARSHIPS:
Scholarships for students coming from Africa, Asia, Americas, Europe, Oceania

To support the human and professional growth of students coming from countries with economic/social/politics problems, the school offer the possibility to enrol to all the courses in our catalogue, with 15% fees discount.
Africa: All countries
South America: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador,Guyana, Paraguay, Suriname, Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Venezuela
North and Central America: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahama, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Repubblica Dominicana, El Salvador, Giamaica, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua.
Asia: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaigian, Bahrein, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Birmania (Myanmar), Cambogia, North Korea, Georgia, Giordania, Iran, Iraq, Kazakistan, Kirghizistan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldive, Mongolia, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Palestina, Qatar, Siria, Sri Lanka, Tagikistan, Thailandia, Timor Est, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Yemen, Filippine, India, Indonesia, Libanon.
Europe: Turchia, Ungheria, Albania, Bielorussia, Bosnia e Erzegovina, Bulgaria, Repubblica Ceca, Croazia, Estonia, Iugoslavia, Lettonia, Lituania, Macedonia, Moldavia, Polonia, Romania, Repubblica Slovacca, Slovenia, Ucraina.
Oceania: Figi, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua Nuova Guinea, Isole Salomone, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.

How to enrol and obtain the scholarship
- Fulfil the on-line form, leave the box "payment" empty, and submit the form;
- Send a message to the school secretary, to signalize your enrolment, and specify your country.
- The school secretary will reply you, with the amount to pay and the instructions for the payments.-2016-2016

Activities

See the complete school curriculum here.

Acknowledgments
2013 Gold Medal by the head of the State, Mr. Napolitano, for the organization of PREZIOSA exhibition
2010 Tuscany’s Silver Banner. The president of the Tuscany Regional Council, Mr. Riccardo Nencini, gave to the school the highest honor of the Regional Council, The Banner of Silver 2010

Awards
Some of the competitions in which students on our courses have taken part. Our students’ creations (jewels and drawings) are very often published in magazines belonging to this field (Vogue Gioiello, Orafo Italiano, YJoja, GZ, GZ Art&Design et.), and in specialized websites such as Voguenet (www.voguegioiello.net). Prestigious publications on goldsmith trends often use our students’ projects (Swarovski Trend Book 2003, 2004, 2005; Signity Gem Vision 2004 and 2005 etc.).

1995 "Dal mille al mille": A competition organised by the Meeting for Friendship between Peoples in Rimini. Students on our Design Course took part, winning first and second prizes.
1996 "Ori e Tesori": A competition open only to former students of jewellery schools and organised in the context of the International Crafts Exhibition. Our students were awarded first, second and third prizes. | "Midora Design Award '96" A competition organised by the Leipzig Trade Fair in Germany, open to certified designers and goldsmiths from European Art and Design Institutes. Five works by our students were selected and exhibited at the Fair, and one of our students' creations was featured in the official catalogue.
1997 "Diamonds-International Awards 1998" Competition organised by De Beers, one of the most significant international jewellery design competitions. Our "Jewellery Design" course students took part with 10 designs sponsored by the School. | "International Pearl Contest": International competition organised by Japanese associations for the promotion of cultivated pearls: 3rd prize overall.
1998 "26th Pearl Design Contest 1998" organised by the "Japan Cultured Pearl Retailers Association". One of our students was awarded third prize. | "Leonardo Da Vinci" Competition, organised in Amsterdam and open to students at European Jewellery Schools: first prize overall. | "I Fiori Della Gioielleria" Jewellery competition organised by "C.I.B.J.O" and open to students at European Jewellery Schools. Two of our students were among the finalists.
1999 "Samshin International Diamond Jewelry Design Awards 1999" Design competition organised in Korea. Two of our students were among the finalists. | "The Ring" Competition organised in Kaiserslautern, open to students at European Jewellery Schools. One of our students won third prize. | "I Segreti Del Mare" Competition organised by the Rotary Club and "Gioielleria Barducci", open to students at Italian jewellery schools. One of our students won second prize. | "Samshin International Diamond Jewelry Design Awards 1999": third prize
2000 Students from the school took part in the "Un Gioiello per la Pace" project, organised by AURITALIA company in collaboration with UNESCO. A piece of jewellery by one of our students was selected and produced by AURITALIA, with a part of the proceeds from sales going to UNESCO.
2001 Competitions organised during the IX international convention of the PLE: second prize in the goldsmithery competition; first, second and third prizes in the design competition; equal first prize in student press competition.
2002 "Un gioiello per il Museo del Costume": first prize to our student Lidia Barigelli | Gold Virtuosi 2002, organised by the World Gold Council; won by out student Kim Min Chong. | The 7th Samshin International Diamond Jewelry Design Awards 2002. Two necklaces designed by two of our students and produced by the school were selected for the final of the competition.
2003 Competition organised by the Rotary Club and Gioielleria Barducci, open to students from Italian jewellery schools: first prize overall to one of our students from the artistic and technical design course. | Competition organised during the XI international convention of the PLE: first and second prizes in the jewellery design competition.
2004 Youth Promotion Price 2004, Hanau, Germania;
- “ORO ANTICO”, contest organized by the National Ministery for Arts and Environment: first prize for the category “Ring” to our student Naroa Ortega. | "Samshin International Diamond Jewelry Design Awards 2004" : our student Kajan Raouf is among the finalists. | Contest organized by the “Museo del tessuto di Prato”: first prize to our student Luca Zanchi.
2005 Competition "Un Gioiello di Donna" (A woman’s piece of jewellery) announced by FIDAPA (Italian Women’s Federation for Arts, Professions and Business).
Our students have won the first three prizes:
1° prize - Han Fei
2° prize - Maloy Luakian
3° prize - Ana Ramirez
2nd Edition of the international competition organised by Eurobijoux , Menorca (Galleria dei Designer) Our student Etsuko Aso was selected to take part in the Fair.

Since 1985, the school has organized a prestigious end-of-year exhibition in which all students take
part.
Since 1990, the school takes part to "Inhorgenta", the International Fair in Munich (Germany), and
"Barnajoya", the International Fair held in Barcelona (Spain), and exhibiting the work of its students.

1995 "CLASS OF '95" International exhibition open to jewellery school students organised by the Goldsmiths' Company of London. Sole private school invited to take part.
1996 "Charles Perroud Creativeness Contest", an exhibition open to ex-students of jewellery schools.
2000 "Diladdarno" Show organised by the Florence Municipal Authority to promote artistic crafts. The school was the only one there with its own stand
2000, 2001, 2003 Itinerant exhibition of jewellery produced by the students at PLE schools.
2002 End-of-year exhibition in the ex-Chiesa dei Barnabiti in Florence.
2003 "Le quattro stagioni", end-of-year exhibition and fashion show in the Chiostro dell'Ammannati in Santo Spirito.
2004 “12th Legnica Festival of Silver”, International student’s exhibition;
- End of the year exhibition and special selection in the “Jewellery Art Gallery” in Firenze
- September: first edition of “The Shape of Jewellery”, Jewellery design Salon, Vicenza Fair
2005 Second edition of “The Shape of Jewellery”, Jewellery design Salon, Vicenza Fair
2006 February: Students display their creations at the school’s stand at Inhorgenta 2006 | 5 students are selected to participate in the “Brand New” section of the Inhorgenta fair 2006, and 1 student was selected for the “Design Podium” section.
2007 February: Students display their creations at the school’s stand at “Inhorgenta 2007”, and 3 students are selected to participate in the “Brand New” section.
2009 Our former student Taisuke Nakada, was selected to take part to "BRAND NEW" at Inhorgenta
Europe, and won the Jewellery Prize for the "DESIGN PODIUM". | Contest/Exhibition organized by the Polish school Antidotum. Our students were invited to take part to the contest. First prize in our student Maddalena Germano and special mention for students Giulia Tamburini, Elia Rizzo and Janine Rall
2010 Barducci’s Contest: our student Stefano Pio won first prize | Fresh Metal Contest 2010: our student Anastassiya Korzhova won the first prize and the student Chyoko Uheara had a special mention | The student’s end of year exhibition was set-up in the old “Leopoldine Cloister”, in Florence. To celebrated the 25 years of is founding. The school had published a catalog with works by some ex-students. | Competition for the realization of a logo for the 25 years of the the school: the prize has been won by the student Elisabetta Bruno | Some students have donated their enraving work on silver plate for the project FiorGen non-profit organization, Arts for research. The works will be exhibited at the National Archaeological Museum in Florence from November 22 to December 18, 2010.
2011 Inhorgenta 2011: Our student I-Ting Hsieh and Ugurtas Burcu had been selected to participate in "BRAND NEW" | Tuscany’s Silver Banner: The president of the Regional Council of Tuscany, Mr. Riccardo Nencini, gave to the school the highest honor of the Regional Council: The Banner of Silver 2010, Saturday, November 28, 11:30 Palazzo Pitti - Museo degli Argenti, Firenze

Collaboration and Appointments
1993 The school is a founding member of the PLE (European Parliament of Jewellery Schools). At its first Congress, the school was appointed to preside over the Education and Research Commission. This appointment was renewed in the following years (2nd Congress in France, 3rd Congress in Germany, Idar-Oberstein).
1996 "Platinum and Jewellery": conference organized in Florence in collaboration with the Tokyo-based Platinum Guild International.
1997 On the occasion of the 5th PLE Congress in Lisbon, the school took on the presidency of the Technical Commission for the design of a community project.
2000 Following a proposal by the Vicenza firm Auritalia, students on the design course designed some pendants inspired by the theme of peace. The selected design led to the production of gold and diamond pendants, and a part of the proceeds from sales went to UNESCO.
2001 Co-ordination and management of the IX International Convention of European Training Centers, in collaboration with the Arezzo Trade Association. The convention, with more than 100 delegates, took place in Arezzo from 22nd to 26th May.
2002-2003 "Hommage03" project, in collaboration with D. Swarovski & Co., for which the design course students designed a jewellery collection using SIGNITY gems. The jewellery was produced by leading Italian companies, with six designs being sponsored and produced by Le Arti Orafe. The collection was charitably donated to SOS Kinderdorf International as a contribution towards the construction of a children's village in Nepal.

Since 2004 the design’s students regularly produce design for the “Signity Book Trend”

2007 Project in cooperation with the famous Indian company Ganjam & Son: a group of students designed jewellery collections for the company, that will realize the most interesting pieces.
Two of the participants are selected for a 6 weeks stay in the company facilities, in Bangalore.

Since 2005 the school organize “Preziosa” the most important European year exhibition for contemporary jewellery (www.preziosa.org)

Events

Publications

Student Group

Display of the workshop

Su Yu Ching
Set: Untitled, 2016
925 silver, 600 silver, fine gold, iron/ 926 silver, fine gold, steel
Photo by: Matt Liao
Braceelt & Hairpin
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