A Silver Legacy: Brandimarte and the Book That Saved a Florentine House
In late November 2025, the elegant halls of the St. Regis Florence provided the setting for the launch of the new book by Bianca Guscelli — a volume weaving together family memory and entrepreneurial passion, devoted to the story of Brandimarte, the celebrated Florentine silver house. A story not only of precious objects, but of roots, tenacity, courage and a love of beauty.
Bianca, granddaughter of the founder and today at the helm of the company, chose to open the evening in a surprising, symbolic way: walking into the room singing “Meraviglioso,” a nod to the period of her life when she performed in clubs and, above all, to the decisive day she stepped up as a performer at the auction for the brand, managing to save her family’s memory and future.
A Florence united around its tradition
The launch drew numerous city figures and people tied to the brand’s history: the President of the Tuscany Region, Eugenio Giani, the Mayor, Sara Funaro, Massimo Manetti (President of the Chamber of Commerce) and Serena Vavolo (President of Confartigianato Firenze), alongside many regional councillors, city officials, friends and longtime faces of Brandimarte such as Gian Carlo Antonioni, Gianni De Magistris, Umberto Panerai and Leonardo Tricarico.
The evening was hosted by Stefano Baragli, a familiar face on Tuscan television and a longtime friend of the family, who gave rhythm and depth to a narrative made of turning points, falls and rebirths.
Between poetry, theatre and shared memory
Some of the theatrical moments were especially moving, among them a reading by the actor Alessio Sardelli, who performed an imaginary letter written by grandfather Brandimarte to his granddaughter, and the appearance of Riccardo Starnotti in the guise of Dante Alighieri, embodying the Florentine soul of the story.
There was music too, with a performance by Aziz, an old friend of grandfather Brandimarte, who revived the atmosphere of the famous cene del Milione (the “Milione dinners”) — a visionary project born of a dream and a whip-round among friends, where everything, from the wine to the bread, was served in silver. A wild, brilliant idea that anticipated the agriturismo trend and lives on in the memory of all who were there.
A book to tell of beauty and courage
The volume, published by Franco Cesati Editore and edited by Sara Gazzini, is more than a book: it is a declaration of love to Florence, to family, to craftsmanship, to the capacity to endure and reinvent. With this intimate, powerful account, Bianca Guscelli hands back to the public not only the story of the Brandimarte brand, but also a piece of Florentine identity — one made of hands that work precious metals, hearts that believe in dreams, and women who choose not to give up.
At a time when craftsmanship is so often forced to reinvent itself to survive, this evening at the St. Regis celebrated the power of memory, the value of beauty, and the determination of someone who, though young, chooses to carry a legacy forward with respect and vision.
