Story: Discovering artistic masterpieces

The magic of cast bronze

The Perseo artistic foundry in Mendrisio blends tradition and innovation, crafting bronze and silver art with advanced techniques.

For more than 70 years, poised between past and future, craftsmanship and managerial vision, the Mendrisio-based artistic foundry Perseo has been a model of traditional activity. Specialising in casting works of art in bronze and silver, it utilises state-of-the-art processing systems that revisit ancient techniques. A real regional flagship.

THE CHARACTER

Andrea Ziino, chief operating officer

No artist can make a bronze sculpture on their own. It always involves teamwork.

THE COMPLETE STORY

The bronze statue of Michelangelo’s famous David stands at the entrance to the Perseo SA foundry and seems to welcome those who cross its threshold. The entrance gate opens onto a magical world- a workshop that sometimes resembles an open-air museum. It’s a realm of sculptures of varying size and workmanship scattered here and there, intriguing tools, and workers focused on meticulous tasks, their foreheads dripping with sweat. Skilful hands engaged in creating new works of art. Indeed, pieces by leading Swiss and international sculptors have been cast within these walls. And, perhaps, not many people know that the Perseo SA foundry boasts an absolute exclusive: the production and worldwide transport of several works by the surrealist master, Salvador Dalí. The complex operational machine is coordinated by the director, Andrea Ziino, a former financial consultant, who is committed to handing down the ancient art of bronze casting.

The alarm goes off at 5.30 a.m.
Andrea Ziino has worked in the foundry for 31 years, starting as an apprentice, now serving as operations manager. He doesn’t mind rolling up his sleeves to lend a hand when needed. Creating a bronze work is a long and complex job, where experience makes all the difference. It involves a lot of hard work but also a lot of satisfaction

Sculpture is art and art is energy. If there’s a good energy in a workplace the pieces come out well.

The profession of foundryman encompasses multiple skills: moulding, making negatives and waxes. Every single operation is important and involves a big team effort.

There is an exchange of ideas with the artist, an encounter out of which the final work emerges.

erseo is the only art foundry left in the area that uses three different casting methods: the traditional one known as lost wax – an ancient technique dating back to 5,000 BC –, the ceramic method and, lastly, the vacuum microcasting method. Furthermore, the decision to use a bronze composed of 90% copper and 10% tin allows for unique patinas, that is to say, bronze colourings, which are difficult to achieve with other metals.

Leading Swiss and international artists have entrusted their sculptures to the Perseo SA foundry. Works by Nag Arnoldi and Ivo Soldini, as well as pieces by Botero and Salvador Dalí. “We are the only foundry in the world that is authorised to cast certain Dalí works. We have absolute exclusivity,” clarifies Andrea with pride. A great asset to the Ticino region.