Giberto Venezia
Works
Bio
“Living in Venice gives a sense of inner joy !” Bianca Arrivabene
“Engraved glass and silver is my passion” Gilberto Arrivabene.
The Papadopolis were an industrial dynasty of Greek origin.
Palazzo Papadopoli, one of the largest palazzos on the Grand Canal,
is inhabited by the grandson of the last female descendant of the Papadopolis: Count Giberto Arrivabene and his wife HRH Princess Bianca di Savoia Aosta.
They have five children, four girls and a boy, all living on the palazzo’s attic floor in a modern and effective way. The space is chic but unpretentious and charming.
Together they have been restoring the family palazzo, including Tiepolo ceilings, to its former splendour. An enormous project!
“ The problem here is not just the salty air and the humidity that eats up the walls “ says Giberto “ it’s the 18th century terrazzo floors, the frescoed paintings on the walls and everything else that requires continuous care and attention”.
The Palazzo was originally designed around 1580 by Gian Giacomo de Grigi for the Coccina family, and bought and enlarged in 1864 by the Papadopolis.
Today, a part of the palazzo is soon to be rented out to a luxurious hotel group that will continue restoring and maintaining this magical place. Thanks to the views, every window resembles a framed Canaletto…
Giberto Arrivabene Valenti Gonzaga, whom friends and family call Gibi, started making glass when he realised that he could no longer find the elegant sets traditionally used by the Italian aristocracy.
Being passionate about beautiful tableware, Giberto has been designing extravagant objects d’art for himself and his family for almost twenty years.
Encouraged by many of his friends to make his designs available to everybody who appreciates exclusive glassware, he finally started his own little business which goes by the name of “A Venetian Design”.
All products are handmade by experienced craftsman on the island of Murano, where the tradition of glassmaking goes back as far as the late 13th century and hand-engraved using a painstakingly slow technique that is nearly extinct.
Certain pieces are being sent to Florence to be finished off with precious silver and vermeil details by renowned silversmith “Pampaloni”.
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