Since the mid-20th century, Florentine silversmithing firm Fratelli Lisi has produced some of the finest silver crafts to come out of Europe. From elaborate floral designs — as exemplified by the company’s candleholders — to simple mushroom-shaped salt and pepper shakers, Fratelli Lisi brings elegance and imagination to all it produces.
Brothers Adriano, Lionello and Romano Lisi — sons of a baker — banded together just after World War II to establish their silversmithing workshop in Florence. At the onset, Fratelli Lisi (the first word being Italian for brothers) employed only 10 people. Building the business from the ground up, the partners and their colleagues made everything they needed, from workbenches to tools, honing their craft as they went along.
The brothers focused on techniques and forms that factory machines could not reproduce. They worked tirelessly and methodically, and soon they were creating artistic sculptures that could only be made by a deft hand and a keen eye. Fratelli Lisi artisans have long drawn inspiration from nature to craft ornamental objets d’art that often serve a utilitarian purpose. A silver turtle figurine, for instance, may also secretly be a box for hiding small items or storing a button collection.
Not unlike Brandimarte, another Florentine silversmithing firm founded in the mid-century years that remains family-owned, Fratelli Lisi remains a family enterprise based in Florence, and the original vision and silversmithing methods have been passed down from generation to generation. For custom commissions, Fratelli Lisi designers begin by collaborating with the client, to get a rough idea of a form to sketch before production. Working from the sketch, the smiths introduce their expertise and artistry — what they collectively call "a touch of magic" — to create the final product.
On 1stDibs, find an assortment of Fratelli Lisi silver and serveware.
$6,835 / item
Armadillo Sterling Silver Lighter
By Fratelli Lisi
Located in Milan, IT
Playful true-to-life silver armadillo that serves as a lighter other than being a decorative artwork in its own right. Expertly made by the Florentine...
Sterling Silver
$7,935 / item
The Frog Sterling Silver Lighter
By Fratelli Lisi
Located in Milan, IT
Playful true to life silver frog that serves as a lighter other than being a decorative piece of artwork. Expertly handmade by the Florentine silversmiths, the Lisi Brothers, its rea...
Sterling Silver
$7,060 / item
The Rhino Sterling Silver Lighter
By Fratelli Lisi
Located in Milan, IT
Playful true-to-life silver rhinoceros that serves as a lighter other than being a decorative artwork in its own right. Expertly handcrafted by the F...
Sterling Silver
$39,250 / item
Sterling Silver Penguin Champagne Bottle Holder
By Fratelli Lisi
Located in Milan, IT
This is a sterling silver champagne bottle holder playfully modeled after a penguin. Its true-to-life quality is remarkable and makes it a very...
Sterling Silver
$3,150 / item
Bunny Sterling Silver Sugar Container
By Fratelli Lisi
Located in Milan, IT
Sterling silver sugar bowl in the form of a small bucket, from which a curious bunny playfully peeks out. Entirely handcrafted by the artisan silversmith atelier Fratelli Lisi in Flo...
Sterling Silver
$1,840 / item
Wild Turkey Card Holder
By Fratelli Lisi
Located in Milan, IT
Adorn an office or home study with this exquisitely crafted silver cardholder bearing the shape of a wild turkey. Within the tail feathers of this whimsica...
Sterling Silver
$25,505 / item
Octopus Sterling Silver and Crystal Tureen
By Fratelli Lisi
Located in Milan, IT
Original octopus tureen in crystal and silver, handmade by Florentine silversmiths, the Lisi Brothers. The hyper realistic centerpiece is transformed into a tureen by adding a detach...
Crystal, Sterling Silver
$12,340 / item
Sophisticated 'Secret' Cabbage Case
By Fratelli Lisi
Located in Milan, IT
Sterling silver cabbage-box made entirely handcrafted by expert silversmiths, the Lisi Brothers, in Florence. Its dynamic and detailed quality make it i...
Silver
$3,745 / item
Pumpkin Decorative Box
By Fratelli Lisi
Located in Milan, IT
This exquisite decorative object can be used to store small personal objects or small food items. It was crafted entirely in silver by skilled artisans in the shape of a pumpkin, whi...
Silver
Sterling Silver Creamer, Sugar and Under-tray
By Manchester Silver Co. & S. S.
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This sterling silver cream and sugar set with matching underplate is a quietly confident piece of table silver—clean-lined, purposeful, and beautifully made, the way good silver has ...
Sterling Silver
$4,685
H 2.96 in W 4.93 in D 1.58 in
Rare Edwardian Antique Sterling Silver Pig Model, Berthold Muller Chester, 1903
By Berthold Muller
Located in London, London
Carrying import marks for Chester in 1903 by Berthold Muller, this charming, Antique Sterling Silver Model of a Pig, is wonderfully modelled, and features a removable head. The pig m...
Sterling Silver
$680Sale Price|20% Off
H 1 in W 8.5 in D 1 in
1980s Ruzzetti & Gow Italian Sterling Silver Spingle Tibia Fusus Shell
By Karl Springer
Located in San Diego, CA
Stunning vintage 1980s original Ruzzetti & Gow Italian sterling silver wrapped spindle tibia shell is 8.5" long. Has the original tag inside. Excellent table top decorative object. G...
Sterling Silver
Georg Jensen Sterling Silver Table Lighter #203A
By Georg Jensen
Located in New York, NY
Exquisite Georg Jensen sterling silver table lighter in pattern 203A with small engraving on the body. A great gift and addition to one's...
Sterling Silver, Silver
$4,500 / set
H 1 in Dm 1.25 in
Asprey & Co Sterling Silver Cased Swan Motif Menu Place Card Holders Set of 12
By Asprey International Limited
Located in Cincinnati, OH
This elegant set of 12 sterling silver menu place card holders was made by Asprey of London. The pieces have circular bases surmounted with arched menu place card supports and featur...
Vermeil, Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver Arts and Crafts Cream & Sugar
By Webster Company
Located in Brooklyn, NY
We are thrilled to offer you this sterling silver cream & sugar set in the original box it was presented. Designed by the Webster Silver Company, these pieces have a hand hammere...
Sterling Silver
12 Sterling Silver gilt Place Card Holders cherubs
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
12 Sterling Silver Gilt Place Card Holders Mid-20th Century Sterling silver and Silversmith hallmark Italian work Dimensions: Height 1.22 inches Weight: 235 grams In great condition...
Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver Liquor Decanter Bottle Name Tags 7 Available
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Beautiful sterling silver liquor & wine decanter name tags. Marked sterling, some with hallmarks two marked made in Spain. They run the gamut from gin to...
Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver Sugar Caster, Chester Hallmark 1931
By Jay Richard Attenborough & Co. Ltd. 1
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in Chester in 1931 by Jay, Richard Attenborough & Co. Ltd., this charming, Sterling Silver Sugar Caster, is of traditional form, and features gadroon borders and a pul...
Sterling Silver
Buccellati six card-holders sterling silver Ocean-themed
By Buccellati
Located in Paris, FR
This rare set of six place card holders (place card) by M. Buccellati is a tribute to the marine world, captured through the elegance of Italian silversmithing. Each piece is finely ...
Silver, Sterling Silver
$9,627
H 6.3 in W 14.97 in D 7.09 in
Heavy Cast Pair of Sterling Silver Pheasant Models, London 1967, R. Comyns
By Richard Comyns
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1967 by Richard Comyns, this handsome, pair of Sterling Silver Pheasants, are realistically cast and hand finished. The male measures 6.25"(16cm) tall, by...
Sterling Silver
English Art Deco Sterling Silver Cigarette Holder Case
Located in New York, NY
An English Art Deco period sterling silver cigarette (or other) holder case, circa early-20th century, England. Marked 'Sterling' on inside; please see last image.
Sterling Silver
Sold
H 3.15 in Dm 18.51 in
Buccellati Centerpiece Fruits Wreath model Solid Silver Lisi Stamp Produce 1978
By Fratelli Lisi, Buccellati
Located in Paris, FR
This large vintage sterling silver centerpiece is very decorative and allows you to adorn your table wonderfully. It is composed of a central wicked-style basket surrounded by chisel...
Silver
20th Centiry Italian Solid Silver Bowl with Frog
By Fratelli Lisi
Located in VALENZA, IT
800 Silver bowl in the shape of a water lily. Completely handmade, it has been embossed and chiseled. A frog in silver casting has been inserted to give a natural setting to the ob...
Silver
Sold
H 2.76 in W 3.94 in D 2.96 in
Mushroom Sterling Silver Salt and Pepper Cellar - Set of 4 Pieces for William
By Fratelli Lisi
Located in Milan, IT
Sterling silver salt and pepper shakers shaped like two wild forest mushrooms. Entirely handcrafted by the expert Florentine silversmiths Lisi Brothers, this tableware piece catches ...
Sterling Silver