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Castellani

Fortunato Pio Castellani (1794 – 1865) founded his business in 1814 on the ground floor of the Palazzo Raggi located on Rome’s Via del Corso, a road that led directly from the city’s northern gate into the center.  The pieces he made during the early years were contemporary European styles, influenced by French, English and Swiss designs aimed at those who visited Rome.  In time he was joined in business by two of his sons, Alessandro (1822-1883) and Augusto (1829-1914) and encouraged by various friends and patrons. By the 1850’s they were producing antique archaeological inspired jewels.  The use of granulation was their signature and this proved one of the hardest skills to emulate cementing the Castellani name in jewelry history.  Alessandro was also active politically and endured interrogation and even imprisonment for his beliefs.  In 1859, risk of renewed imprisonment led him to flee Rome for Paris where he took an apartment and later opened a business on the Champs-Elysées.  The running of the Rome workshop was left to Augusto, especially after Fortunato retired in 1861.  Alessandro’s stay in Paris enabled him to promote both the Castellani name and the appreciation of revivalist jewelry.  He was also able to assist in the purchase by the French government of part of the Campana Collection.  The Castellani’s were instrumental in the acquisition, restoration and cataloguing of the ancient jewelry.  The loss of this collection from Italy prompted Fortunato to form his own collection which he divided in to eight different periods and displayed in showcases around the walls of the showroom and they moved to new premises at 88 Via Poli.  No nineteenth century lady or gentleman visiting Italy would consider a tour of Rome complete without a stop at Castellani’s.  The opening of a third branch in London at 13 Frith Street was managed by Castellani’s pupil Carlo Giuliano.  In 1881 the business moved for the final time to the Piazza Fontana di Trevi and Alessandro died in 1883.   Augusto ran the business with his son Alfredo who was well versed in the running of the workshop and took total control upon his father’s death in 1914.   European taste in jewelry had changed but the firm was kept running by the demand for jewelry souvenirs.  Alfredo had no children so he made arrangements to gift the family’s collections and archives to various museums.  Alfredo died on January 8th 1930.

​​​​​WE ARE ALWAYS INTERESTED IN PURCHASING CASTELLANI JEWELRY, JEWELRY SKETCHES, DOCUMENTS!

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© COPYRIGHT 2017-2021. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. .All Rights Reserved. All trademarked names, brands, models, logos, images, and graphics are the sole property of their respective trademark owners and copyright and credit to their respective owners. Timberbrook Capital, Velvet Box Society, this site, including its owners, operators, and developers, is not affiliated with nor endorsed by any watch or jewelry brand manufacturer brand or any subsidiaries thereof, in any way.
  • Home
  • Antique & Vintage
    • Latest Finds
    • Shop By Era
    • Engagement Rings
    • Cocktail Rings
    • Timepieces
    • Gentlemans Accessories
    • Bracelets
    • Earrings
    • Necklaces & Pendants
    • Diamonds & Gems
    • From The Vault
    • The Archives: A Collection of Sold Items
    • Final Sale Items
  • Custom
    • Custom Jewelry
    • Custom Engagement Rings
    • Recreating an Heirloom
    • Family Crest Jewelry
    • Design Process
    • Schedule Consultation
    • For The Trade
    • More For The Trade
  • Sell To Us
  • Services
    • Appraisal Services >
      • Jewelry Insurance
      • Appraisals
      • SELL TO US
      • Exchange
      • Museum Collection Services
    • Schedule Consultation
    • Custom Jewelry Design
    • Recreating an Heirloom
    • Jewelry Repair
    • Timepiece Repair
    • Diamond Cutting and Gemstone Repair
    • Find Jewelry For Me
    • Find a Watch For Me
    • Find a Diamond
    • Jewelry Rental
    • Insurance Replacement
    • Private Collection Management
    • Layaway Plan
    • Consignment
    • Wholesale Inquiries >
      • Host a Trunk Show
  • The Brand
    • Our History >
      • Sustainability
      • Military and First Responder Discounts
      • Kimberly Process
    • Our Experts
    • Jewelry School >
      • Educational Session
      • Eras of Style >
        • Ancient
        • Medieval & Renaissance
        • Baroque & Rococo
        • Georgian
        • Victorian
        • Edwardian
        • Art Nouveau
        • Arts & Crafts
        • Art Deco
        • Retro
        • Hollywood Glam
        • Mid-Century Modern
        • Brutalist
        • Art Organique
        • Contemporary
        • Simplistic
      • Diamonds & Gems >
        • Gemstone Education >
          • Gemstone Laboratories
          • All About Gemstones
          • Approximate Gemstone weights
          • Carat to MM Conversion
          • Gemstone Colors
          • Created, Synthetic & Simulated Gemstones
          • Equivalents Chart
        • Diamond Education >
          • Diamond Carat Weight by MM
          • Comparative Round Size Info
          • Diamond Cutting and Gemstone Repair
          • Lab Grown Diamonds
      • Counterfeit Jewelry & Watch Identification
      • Engagement Rings
      • Diamond Earrings
      • Timepieces >
        • Vintage Rolex
        • Watch Terms
      • Ring Designs & Sizings >
        • Men's Wedding Band Finishes
        • Ring Width
        • Ring Size
        • Wrist Size
      • Custom Jewelry
      • Metals
      • Engraving
      • Birthstones
      • Jewelry Care
      • Jewelry Terms
    • Makers Biographies
    • Press
    • Be Social
    • Gems by VBS The BLOG
    • Reviews
    • Advice >
      • The Courtship
      • The Wedding
    • Events
    • Holiday Shipping
    • Careers
    • Affiliate Program
  • Contact