How Artisénne Got It’s Name
This week, I promised I'd be back with some inspiration behind the brand, so take a peek at the fun moodboard below and scroll a bit further for a backstory of how I landed on the name: Artisénne.
Layered + Soulful
Design that is inspired by the beautiful stories of objects with a past. Rich patina mixed with modern luxuries. Elements with handcrafted details, organic materials, and a flair for spaces filled with drama, cleverness, meaning and personality.
Becoming Artisénne
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In 2019, my husband and I decided to visit Italy with my immediate family, and having the chance to visit one of the lands of my heritage was a total dream come true.
Knowing that we'd walk some of the same footsteps of my ancestors, it brought about a deep-dive into some of my grandmother's history and belongings. We found an old travelogue of hers that showcased the city of Syracuse (or “Siracusa" in Sicily) and immediately added it as a stop on our itinerary!
The magical part about finding that brochure was seeing her own handwritten list that was included on the back. She had written the details from a trip she took to visit relatives back in 1938 and I noticed that she had underlined the stop marked ORTIGIA so I took that as a literal sign and off to Ortigia we went!
The Siracusa travel brochure from 1938!
This little booklet hangs on my wall and I think of our family trip every time I see it.
Such a special gift to follow in the footsteps of our grandmother.
Here you can see the island of Ortigia in the lower right hand side of the map.
Ortigia is an island that is just a quick bridge away from Siracusa and it is considered the historical center of the area filled with vibrant business districts as well as quiet residential streets. It's home to cathedrals and fortresses along with incredible restaurants, farmers markets and plenty of shopping.
It seemed like everywhere we turned there were more gems to uncover and we laughed as we noticed that many of the local shops had ARTIGIANO written on the sign… it felt like such a novelty for “The Artigue Family” who rarely sees anything remotely close to our last name while bopping around in real life!
After looking it up, we learned that artigiano/a means “craftsman or artisan” in Italian, and when I read the google translate entry I felt an instant resonance deep in my bones. It seemed like a little breadcrumb from the universe (or maybe my grandmother?) and I tucked the newfound information away with the sense that it would come in handy somewhere down the road.
Fast-forward to some of what I shared with you last week: The decision to begin a career in interior design feels like an official pursuit of my own form of art.
I may not be a craftswoman or an artisan in the true meaning of either word, but I have always been drawn to physical items that are thoughtfully crafted in both function and design. Following my love of beautifully made objects is even more enjoyable when those pieces carry meaning, foster longevity and can eventually become heirlooms.
When I think about how my last name Artigue has gently informed the latest chapter of my life, I'm filled with excitement around connecting to my roots in this way.
It feels like a literal/figurative mash-up of history and design and creativity and heritage, and I honestly could not have come up with a more appropriate or beloved smattering of words, even if I'd tried.
I don't have much else to add besides a quick prayer of gratitude for these beautiful breadcrumbs and a profound wish that my grandmother can see how tickled I am to be winding up right here today.
