When I started this job I thought I needed a symbol that represented me and tied me to my roots, considering my “being a globetrotter”.

I grew up in a country town in north-eastern Italy, called Villanova di Fossalta. It’s a few kilometers from Portogruaro, a small city near Venice, which was once a famous center for trade with the Venice Republic.
Also known as Villanova Santa Margherita, is a rural village in a flat area of ​​ancient Roman foundation, close to the sea and not far from the mountains.

After the second world war, Villanova grew and became a small industrial center thanks to the establishment of the Zignago industries, which specialized in the production of glass bottles.
My grandfather, my father and almost all the parents of my childhood friends have worked all their lives “at the Zignago,” the largest factory in the area.

Despite the industrial roots of Villanova, the surrounding environment has remained rich with various craft and agricultural activities. Portogruaro area, for example, is known for the production of wine.

The most well-known monument in the area is a large secular oak which is around 700 years old. It is a very particular tree: the trunk is not long-limbed and inside it is hollowed out.
I remember that as a child, with friends, it was a game to climb the oak tree passing through the inside of the trunk.

It is a very beautiful and significant tree for all the inhabitants of the area even if today, unfortunately, it is not in excellent health.

For me, choosing an oak leaf as a trademark was an obvious decision.

The great oak was already suffering from a worm infestation that was literally eating it from the inside, as well as from a lightning strike that had hit it years earlier. Unfortunately, in September 2024, a powerful tornado struck the tree and likely killed it. I say likely because the main trunk is still standing, and everyone here is hoping for a new sprout to grow.

The day after the tornado was one of the saddest moments for the entire community. I was in Milan, and my friends kept sending me heartbreaking photos of the fallen branches. After a short while, I began to think that something beautiful deserved to be born from that tragedy. I asked the municipality for permission to use the wood that had fallen to the ground and give it a new life… by turning it into guitars.

Things moved quickly after that. The municipality was enthusiastic about my idea and told me I could take whatever I needed. Together with my father and my brother, I selected some of the larger pieces and brought them to a sawmill to be cut into boards.

Now the wood is resting and drying in my house. As soon as possible, I will start making instruments and other objects for the community. I can’t wait!