Shining Blades

The pages of this book illustrate a selection of around 200 utensils, mostly consisting in ancient and modern tools for cutting, both Italian- and foreign-made. They are part of the collection of more than 2,000 pieces belonging to Aldo and Edda Lorenzi and held by the Foundation named after them. The aim is to capture, also in printed form, the memory of the wonderful craftsmen who made them. These artisans’ talent was fueled by their love for their work and, in the case of the older pieces, it also drew on the skills handed down to them, from one generation to another. This is a display not only of objects, but of memories, passions, and hard work, to inspire those wishing to embark on the same journey as the authors: a career in a specialist retail sector, such as the family shop (in Via Montenapoleone, Milan) they devoted their whole lives to. Their inspiration was the joy of being able to serve as a window from which to observe the city—a city from which they could receive ever-changing, ever-evolving messages and then pass them on to others, enriched by their own unique experience.