Marco Gentili: Italian Handmade Weaving Between Tradition and Contemporary Design
- Jan 12
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 3
At the crossroads of memory, material, and gesture, Marco Gentili gives new form to one of Tuscany’s most ancient crafts: weaving. Through Intrecci Toscani, his practice transforms traditional basketry into contemporary Italian handmade design, where time, patience, and the human hand remain central to the making process.
This balance between heritage and innovation places Gentili’s work within a wider landscape of contemporary Italian craft, closely aligned with textile-based practices such as those explored by Simone Falli, where slow design, material research, and manual processes shape a shared design ethos.
Today, Gentili’s work stands as a refined expression of contemporary Italian weaving, where ancestral techniques meet a modern sensibility. Each piece is crafted entirely by hand in Tuscany, inside the historic Casa Gentili—his workshop and a living space of exchange, collaboration, and learning.
How did you begin your artistic journey in design?
In 2012, after leaving the world of multinational companies—where I worked for almost twenty years—I attended a weaving course and made the classic round basket. After a few years without weaving, I returned to it and, with great effort, completed my first replica of that basket, which in truth was not very round at all. From there, I continued, becoming more and more passionate about the practice.
Which materials do you love working with the most, and why?
Natural materials fascinate me deeply because they have already lived a life and served a function before becoming weaving rods. Over time, I’ve worked with various materials: initially local ones such as willow and olive wood—the latter for its rustic quality and silvery colour. Today, my greatest passion is rattan, which I appreciate for its uniformity, refinement, and the precision it allows when creating details.
Is there a philosophy or inspiration that guides your work?
I always try to combine weaving with another material—metal, stone, or more often wood and leather—so the woven element can stand
out more clearly. This creates an overall harmony, linking weaving to materials that are very different in nature.
This sensitivity to material dialogue aligns Gentili’s approach with other contemporary Italian artisans such as Cecilia Rinaldi of Atelier Nuanda, whose work similarly explores balance, material intelligence, and handmade processes.
Is there a piece you feel particularly attached to?
I don’t think there is a piece I’m particularly attached to. Each one reflects a precise moment in my professional growth. The piece that excites me the most is always the next one—the one not yet made, the one without a defined solution, which requires experimentation to reach the desired result.
What does it mean to create in small batches or limited editions?
It means using hand tools and maintaining direct contact with the object being made. It keeps both body and mind engaged, developing skill and precision, without delegating the quality of the work to a machine.
How would you like your work to be perceived in people’s homes?
I would like that, when observing one of my works in their private space, the owner can see the person who made it.
What role does tradition play in your creative process?
Even without consciously intending it, what one has seen since birth feels familiar and naturally resurfaces. For me, this is evident in the twisted braided edge that finishes almost all my woven works. Other finishing techniques don’t come as spontaneously—I must consciously decide to use them.
What do you aim to convey through your works?
Harmony and timeless beauty.
Have you collaborated with other artisans or designers?
Absolutely. The most interesting works I’ve created are the result of collaborations with designers, architects, or artisans from other fields. Seeing through another person’s eyes is a great privilege.
Biography
Intrecci Toscani was born from the vision of Marco Gentili, who transforms the ancient knowledge of Tuscan weaving into a contemporary language. After years in the industrial world, Marco returned to his family roots, reviving the artisanal tradition of vine shoots and olive branches with a strong innovative drive. Each creation—lamps, trays, and handmade Italian home decor objects—is the result of an aesthetic research that combines contemporary design with ancient manual techniques. The workshop, located inside the historic Casa Gentili, is also a space for education and exchange, where knowledge is passed on through a modern lens. Intrecci Toscani is a living project, constantly evolving thanks to creativity and collaboration with designers, offering bespoke products that enhance Tuscan identity with style and originality.
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