We were lucky to catch up with Fusina Feraro recently and have shared our conversation below.

Fusina, appreciate you joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

If we were to be asked what job we do or how we identify ourselves professionally, we could easily answer that we feel first of all researchers. The study component has always been an integral part not only of our work but of our lives. We were born as researchers and have poured this passion into our work. For us, it is unthinkable to start a project without first documenting ourselves thoroughly. Behind the reproduction of a single object, there is a whole world that needs to be revealed in order to give value to the object itself and give it dignity. Research allows us not only to know directly the processes and materials used in the past, but also the context, events, customs and people connected to the object being worked on. Theory has then always gone hand in hand with practice: attempts to reproduce what we have read and studied in archives, articles and books are constant and a fundamental part of our work. As is easy to imagine, the years devoted to such work have been many, the attempts numerous and the failures just as many. Study and practice are therefore the two souls that have always characterised our work.
Everything we know is therefore the result of years of intense study, constant experimentation and dedication to a work that, first and foremost, is a passion.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Fusina Feraro was born from the collaboration between Giovanni Sartori and Luca Munaretto. We both are researchers of the Italian metallurgical tradition, with a particular focus on the iron and steel technologies developed between the Middle Ages and the early Modern Age. The main activity is the reproduction of swords and armour, and the production of steel from ore using techniques and methods as consistent as possible with those used in the past.
Our backgrounds have contributed in a unique way to give value and authenticity to the project. Giovanni graduated in Chemistry for Restoration and spent several years ironworking as a blacksmith, gaining a deep understanding of techniques and refining his manual skills. Luca graduated in History, his contribution is central in structuring the study of historical sources and he oversees the communication and dissemination.
Although we come from different backgrounds, our mutual understanding ensures that all phases of the project are supervised and curated by both.
The fundamental principle of our approach to work is the search for authenticity through study and research. The common aim of putting traditional techniques into practice starts from the desire of manufacturing unique individual elements that compose the final work, from the processing and production of the raw material to the finished piece. Such elements tell the story of the object and are imbued with a particular meaning which constitutes the rich and complex identity of the final product.
We believe that what sets us apart is a focus on historical fidelity and a deep respect for the manufacturing process at every stage. From this awareness comes a commitment to constant historical, artistic and scientific research. We try to relate to the ancient craftsmen, a fundamental step that helps us understand which is the best method or technique to achieve a given goal with the means available in their time, this method really complements our research.
Our work is more than just the material deployment of resources; it is an interpretive process that takes the form of the utmost care and attention to detail.
It is time-consuming work, but it gives meaning to time and brings History back to life.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

We believe that creating a business like ours from scratch is already a challenge that inevitably involves the concept of resilience. Aware of the many difficulties, but at the same time aware of the uniqueness of such work, we have turned a challenge into a strength, trying to value every single aspect. To give an example, we believe that one of the most representative moments was deciding to create steel from ore. The choice was based on the idea of retracing as faithfully as possible the phases that, between the Middle Ages and the Early Modern Age, characterised a turning point in European technological evolution from a metallurgical point of view. Starting with the recovery of iron ore by hand in the same Alpine locations where it was collected at the time, then moving on to its processing, smelting and refining in furnaces built by us and modelled on the archaeological finds (both from the structural point of view and from the point of view of the materials used – clays, sands and natural materials -), to the final forging of steel: the entire supply chain is managed by us personally and as much as possible using locally sourced raw materials and with a low environmental impact; for example, we produce the charcoal needed to fuel the furnaces ourselves daily, using only local wood. And this is only a small part of our daily routine!
As you can imagine, the difficulties and commitments are many and managing everything in two people becomes, at times, really challenging. The awareness, however, that this kind of work is unique and that, in our own small way, we can give light back to a forgotten piece of our history, gives us the right charge to continue our endeavour.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

We agree that our common passion regarding history and science has brought us this far and will constantly accompany us on our journey. As already mentioned, giving new life to a forgotten piece of history through what we produce is certainly a great stimulus. In fact, our mission is condensed in our statement: ‘Reviving the tradition’. Through the revival of tradition, which can be expressed in the rediscovery of the technique, culture, customs and traditions associated with the art of blacksmithing or, more generally, the history of steel, we want to give people back a piece of history: a history that, although distant in time, is still close because it is an integral part of our experience, of everyone’s experience. Rediscovering implies, in a way, giving back and, at the same time, creating awareness of a part of our past. We believe that these are the best aspects of our work and why it is really worth continuing what we do.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.fusinaferaro.com
• Instagram: @fusinaferaro
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083622932251&_rdr

Image Credits
For the first uploaded image (fusinaferaro.jpg) the credits go to Jun Ishikura