Stefano Ricci Just Bought a Famous Florentine Glass Workshop

With boutiques in cities from Baku to Beverly Hills, Stefano Ricci is a favored shopping destination among the well-heeled worldwide. But the Italian luxury brand has just made a considerable purchase of its own: Moleria Locchi, the renowned Florentine crystal and glass workshop that’s been restoring and engraving precious objects since the late 19^th century.

Ensconced in a historic palazzo in the city’s San Frediano neighborhood—long a haven for artisans—Moleria Locchi earned its reputation in the 1800s for painstakingly restoring glass and crystal treasures ranging from antique goblets to Murano candelabras. Its tradition of craftsmanship has continued through the present day under the guidance of Paola Locchi, who inherited the business from her father-in-law in 1964 and relaunched it in its current form as not only a restorer but also a producer and engraver of fine crystal and glassware. In that capacity, Stefano Ricci has collaborated with Moleria Locchi for the last 12 years to create glasses, decanters and other objects for its home line.

Stefano Ricci’s acquisition of the workshop will allow that partnership to continue. But just as importantly, it enables the brand—which was started by its eponymous founder as a tie workshop in Florence in 1972—to preserve an artisan in its own backyard.

“Since the Middle Ages, Florence has been the city of arts and crafts,” says Stefano Ricci CEO Niccolo Ricci. “Over the centuries, it has built a culture rooted in craftsmanship, refinement, and taste. These values, combined with the beauty of its art and architecture, made its image unique in the world. Our group has always been committed to preserving this knowledge and passing it on to new generations.”

It is not the first time that the company—which exclusively manufactures in Italy, and according to Ricci, engages more than 300 artisans across tasks like shoemaking, tailoring, silversmithing and leatherwork—has stepped in to serve as custodian for a beloved Florentine workshop. In 2009 it revived another San Frediano resident, Antico Setificio Fiorentino, a silk weaver founded in 1786 that continues to make silk furnishings using 18^th century looms.

“The preservation of these traditions is both remarkable and fragile,” says Ricci, who notes that the pandemic put particular stress on Florence’s artisan sector, with some being purchased by foreign entities.

“Entire disciplines, from silk weaving to crystal engraving, often depend on just a few families, with only one or two generations standing between survival and disappearance… [Antico Setificio Fiorentino and Moleria Locchi] are clear examples of this delicate balance. By bringing them into our group, we have been able to ensure continuity and protect techniques, archives, and tools that might otherwise have been lost forever,” he continues.

Stefano Ricci has not only championed the artisans it has acquired but has also made their craft more visible to the public. Since taking ownership of Antico Setificio Fiorentino it has welcomed select visitors to the premises to view production firsthand, an experience it hopes to replicate at Moleria Locchi in the coming months.

“Allowing a limited number of visitors to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of exceptional craftsmanship offers not only a unique experience but also a moment of insight that helps them better appreciate the true value of an object,” Ricci says.

Ultimately, where you’re most likely to see Moleria Locchi’s work is at a Stefano Ricci store—and for many more years to come.

“By incorporating handwoven silks, engraved crystal, or chiseled silver into our boutiques across the globe, our interior design projects, or even our special real estate projects, we keep tradition relevant for today’s client” Ricci continues. “This cycle of preservation through use is what gives these crafts a true future.”