Mario Berta Battiloro - The last heirs to an ancient art

Gold-beaters, Decorators. The very last of the ancient craft of Gold-Beater

Beaten gold leaf is mostly industrially produced in China. In Venice, Berta Battiloro is upholding the craft of gold beating by hand, using a hammer. The family business is "The Last of the Gold Beaters" – and they’re very proud of their craftmanship.

..." In a historical palace in the heart of Venice, gold, silver and other precious metals are melted with an artisanal technique, which turns them into tiny sheets while barely altering the materials, thus ensuring top-quality products."

Mario Berta Battiloro inherited his family business dating back to 1926. Today, alongside his daughter Simona and his granddaughters, he is one of the last artisans able to perform the ancient gold leaf art.

In a historical palace in the heart of Venice, gold, silver and other precious metals are melted with an artisanal technique, which turns them into tiny sheets while barely altering the materials, thus ensuring top-quality products. The sheets are later used by the artists and artisans decorating precious furnishings and major works, such as San Marco’s bell-tower and mosaics or the “Madonnina” of Milan’s Cathedral.

The company invests widely in research and development, pursuing innovative solutions which recently allowed them to gain a foothold in the food and cosmetic sectors.