Orvieto

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Cantagalli, the Scottish dimension

by Sheila Forbes

On 31 August 1880 Margaret Tod and Ulisse Cantagalli were married in the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Mary’s, Edinburgh, with Ulisse’s brother Romeo, and Margaret’s brother Robert, as witnesses. His Grace, John Menzies Strain, Archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, officiated, thereby establishing a permanent bond between the two fine cities of Edinburgh and Florence (SCA).

The Tods of Edinburgh
Margaret’s father was Robert Tod, Mill owner, a partner in Alexander & Robert Tod Ltd., Leith Flour Mills (NAS D76/1056), and a Leith Harbour and Dock Commissioner (NAS SC70/4/298).

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Medieval pottery from Orvieto – Italy

November 8 – January 10, 2010
Perugia – Italy

Italian Ceramics - Plate - Orvieto, Arte de Vascellari, 1920-28 - Federico Ferdinandi collection (Torgiano) - Photo credits: http://www.artearti.netA very unusual art exhibition has opened in Perugia, that focuses on the birth of the movement of cultural property protection at the beginning of the 20th century against the massive acquisitions made by foreign Italian art collectors.

Art works, vintage pictures, original editions of books and documents tell the visitors the story of art collecting in the Western world and the effort of the Italian lawmakers in protecting our national heritage.

The symbol of the event is a 50 piece collection of Medieval ceramics made in Orvieto that was scattered across the world. For the first time in more than one hundred years they are under the same roof, the one of Palazzo Baldeschi in Perugia, Umbria.

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