Archive
The Fedrigoni Fabriano Foundation, on behalf of Fedrigoni S.p.A., takes care of the Fabriano Paper Mills archive complex. Over 500 linear metres of archival and library heritage belonging to the Cartiere Miliani Fabriano archive, the first corporate archive in Italy to be declared of ‘notable historical interest’ by a binding provision issued on 20 July 1964.
Now fully catalogued and inventoried, the documental sources dating from 1782 are conserved with the watermark collection dating from then to the present day, created by Cartiere Miliani’s chief executive, Luigi Tosti, Duke of Valminuta, starting from 1946. The collection comprises over 1,500 watermarks; the photo library, including over 1,200 historical photographs dating from 1871 onwards that document the industrial, archaeological, architectural and landscape heritage, as well as distinguishing elements of the society and culture of paper craft; and a library of some 3,000 volumes.
In 2016, the Foundation acquired the collection of 2,212 examples of ancient Fabriano paper collected by watermark expert Augusto Zonghi (1842-1916) that date from between 1267 and 1798. Much prized by paper scholars worldwide, the collection was presented at the 1900 Paris Exposition, and was hailed by the examining board as “unique in the world.” It is widely recognized as one of Europe’s most important and reliable reference sources for research and scholarship in the history of paper and watermarks.
The collection and watermarks housed at the Cartiere Miliani Archive form the Corpus Chartarum Fabriano (CCF), comprising papers dating from the thirteenth to twenty-first century: an ambitious project aiming to identify, catalogue and digitalize all watermarked Fabriano papers and to make them available for online consultation within a reserved area and accessed via a database specially structured to respond to the requirements of the scientific community.
Enriching this impressive archival and library heritage, is the Beni Storici Cartari (BSC) with its over 10,000 tools and machines: a priceless collection, unique in the world in size, and officially declared of “notable historic interest’ (Leg. Decree 42/2004, art. 15, c. 1) by the Ministry of Cultural Assets, Activities and Tourism (MIBACT) on 30 May 2018. This includes 793 wire cloth rollers for cylinder machine paper production, 269 off-cuts from antique wire cloth rollers, over 6,000 wood, bronze and copper punches, as well as 301 laid moulds and 1,994 wove moulds: a total of 2,295 moulds for hand crafting paper dating back to the first half of the nineteenth century. All the moulds are watermarked, and were commissioned by national and international banks and by such historical companies as FIAT, Liquore Strega, Fernet Branca, Stabilimento Ricordi etc, instrumental in the creation of the ‘Made in Italy’ style. A part of this heritage is hosted on a loan-for-use basis in museums in Fabriano and Pioraco (Musei della Carta e della Filigrana).
Paper is a versatile and fascinating material for daily and special use, expression of culture and technology, an instrument that conveys content and emotion, and even of protection, in conservation and packaging.
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Open open for consultation ONLY BY APPOINTMENT from Monday to Friday:
MORNING 8.00-13.00
AFTERNOON 14.00-17.00
