The Most Unique Mask and other Venice, Italy Shopping Tips

Name of Shop: Giorgio Benedetti's Workshop

One of the days we devoted to searching for unique masks...as you know, even though Carnival is an ancient tradition it was only reinstituted in the eighties to draw tourists...and along with it's revival came the rebirth of the ancient art of mask-making. All the masks are beautiful, but we were looking for something truly special and that's when we trekked to find Giorgio Benedetti. His shop had none of the eye candy of the other shops...it was dark inside and the windows were dirty but as soon as we stepped inside we knew he was the man. His venerable dog Nemo greeted us with raspy barks then went back to his plaid cushion at the command of his master. This wasn't a shop as much as it was a workplace. The walls were filled with carved, wooden mask molds, plaster wreaths and hanging tools. On the shelf was this amazing skull mask leafed in gold...I'd never seen anything like it and I knew that Rob was seriously considering it. After an hour or so we returned knowing that we weren't going to find anything like it anywhere else and purchased the mask.

What To Buy: Usually Giorgio has only a few finished masks but they are stunning. If you do buy something ask him to sign it. He is afterall one of the people responsible for reviving this lost art.

What To Pay: His masks are very reasonably priced for the quality: Hand applied gold leaf, and casting from hand carved wooden molds.

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