The leather glove as a symbol of craftsmanship excellence, sustainability and technological innovation. The exhibition “Glove: Paths and Stories of Gloves in Naples” opened on Tuesday, 21 January 2025, at the Fondazione Banco di Napoli. This exhibition, which can be visited until 21 February, celebrates the historicity and enormous potential of this iconic artefact of Neapolitan tradition.
The opening
This exhibition was organised by the Stazione Sperimentale Industria Pelli e Materie Concianti (SSIP) with the support of UNIC – Italian Tanneries and LINEAPELLE. It is supported by the Campania Region and the Fondazione Banco di Napoli. The inaugural event was attended by Fulvia Bacchi (Director UNIC – Italian Tanneries) and Edoardo Imperiale (General Manager SSIP). With them Ciro Castaldo (Director of the Banco di Napoli Foundation), Alessandro Pellone (President of Chiroteca) and Giuseppe Gaeta (Director of the Naples Academy of Fine Arts.
PHOTOGALLERY
Responsible beauty
“The global, innovative and sustainable leadership of our industry imposes substantial responsibilities. One of these is to respect the identity of a sector that has its roots in a multi-millennial culture that must be studied, preserved and enhanced”, comments Fulvia Bacchi. “This is why, as an association, we give life to a series of events that allow us to communicate, to an absolutely transversal target, the beauty of a production model that combines tradition and craftsmanship, science and technology, creativity and design. Telling in a stimulating and novel way every aspect of the leather material, its circular production cycle and its constantly improving green approach”.
Not only tradition
“For some time now, through exhibitions and cultural events, SSIP has been promoting one of the most representative products of Naples and its ancient craftsmanship: the leather glove”, Imperiale explains in a press note. Glove does not only mean tradition, its history is made up of ancient craftsmanship “which cannot do without the support of research organisations. Such as SSIP, which is committed to the research, development and innovation of processing techniques and materials in the tanning sector”.
A unique and unrepeatable opportunity
“The first exhibition on the historical production of Neapolitan gloves is a unique and unrepeatable opportunity to give value to a prestigious local historical and artistic sector”, says Pellone. “It allows us to give new impetus to this ancient, purely manual art, recognised throughout the world. The main objective of the newly founded Chiroteca Network is precisely this. To valorise and promote this significant art with initiatives like this one, so that it can become itinerant and allow us to plan the valorisation of the sector, around Italy and the world. A priceless heritage that should not be dispersed, but rather multiplied”.
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