Until June 29: MADE IN ITALY, DESTINATION AMERICA 1945 – 1954. Fondazione Ragghianti, via San Micheletto 3. Open 10 am – 7 pm daily including holidays, closed Monday. Admission: €8, free for ages 6 and under.
A new exhibition at the Fondazione Ragghianti in Lucca offers visitors an exciting foray into the Italo-American cultural exchange between 1945 and 1954 that shaped everything from emerging household technology to high fashion. Against the backdrop of the post-war Marshall Plan and increasing global trade, the exhibition explores the consumer trends and innovation that powered the early years of the Italian economic miracle.
Drawing on the legacy of organizations such as the CADMA (Commission for the Assistance of Craft Materials Distribution, headed by Carlo Ludovico Ragghianti, for whom the foundation is named) and the CNA (National Artisanal Company), the exhibition presents a variety of artefacts produced in Italy in the post-war period. In doing so, it weaves together an intricate story of cultural and economic revitalization in a nation affected by war and occupation. The first of its four sections is titled: ‘The House of Italian Handicraft: From Florence to New York.’ Guests are presented with a wide variety of source material on the Marshall Plan, contextualising the relationship between Italy and the United States at this time, allowing one to appreciate the significance of the ‘House of Italian Handicraft,’ which exhibited artisanal Italian products in New York from 1947.
Visitors are then taken through different dimensions of the cultural and economic exchange that proceeded over the coming years, with the following sections titled ‘Italian Journey,’ ‘Italian Lifestyle,’ and ‘New Shapes and New Routes.’ Olivetti’s Lexikon 80 model typewriter, produced in 1948, tells the story of Italy’s foray into consumer technology, while a 1950 poster collection from the Italian National Authority for Promoting Tourism speaks to the efforts made to reinvigorate cultural interest in the nation. A series of sandals and ankle boots from legendary designer Salvatore Ferragamo evidence the way in which Italy came to dominate the global fashion industry in this period, while a collection of objects in green glass of Empoli reflect contemporary trends in home decor.
Other exhibits include ceramics and majolica; an early espresso machine accompanied by a set of Richard Ginori porcelain cups; in addition to a table and other luxury home furnishings by designers Giò Ponti and Fornasetti. Also on display is the iconic Lambretta moped.
The themes of the exhibition remain as relevant today as ever. With global trade more complex and multifaceted than ever, it is fascinating to examine the origins of the commercial relationship between Italy and the United States. The story of national reconstruction after a period of crisis is also relevant. As Italy continues to recover from the economic fallout of the COVID 19 pandemic, the parallels with the post-war era are worth exploring: the drive towards rehabilitating national cohesion; rebuilding ties with global economies; redeveloping local industries. The focus on traditional methods and locally sourced materials that is evident across many of the artefacts exhibited also speaks to modern consumer inclinations towards sustainability in fashion and craft.
The Fondazione Ragghianti is a venue perfectly suited to the subject. Named for Carlo Ludovico Ragghianti, its stated aim is to offer an instrument for the study of art, both past and present. ‘Made in Italy: Destination America 1945 – 1954’ not only succeeds in providing visitors with an in-depth exploration of the trade and cultural relationships that shaped post-war Italy and the United States, but also provokes the viewer to consider how these connections continue to influence the respective consumer and cultural trends of these two countries in the modern day. (Sultan Khokhar)
