18/08/2026
Antiques Restoration & Gilding Courses: soon available back in Scotland, contact us for details.
Luigi Maria Villani has been running Practical Courses for the Restoration of Furniture, Frames and Traditional Gilding in Scotland since 1992 and in Italy since May 2005 at the Museum by Castle of Santa Severa, at Ceri Castle and in Tarquinia, near Rome. Luigi is always been able to create a simple approach to the art, allowing participants to complete restoration and gilding work even outside the contest of the courses: many students continue to benefit from the experience of the Master by receiving ongoing advice.
In Italy he worked with Maestro Roberto Saccuman in the restoration of the 16th century wooden choir at San Damiano in Assisi and the portals of the Rocca di Spoleto. In 1996 , after he restored several gilded frames for the Chiesa di Sant‘ Antonio dei Portoghesi in Rome, he was made Manager of the Restoration Workshop he set there for Conservation of Woodwork. Over the years he has completed many projects of intricate restoration within Sant’Antonio Baroque Church: carved and veneered gates and doors (some designed by the Arc. Luigi Vanvitelli around 1750), gilded frames, candlesticks, Consoles, the High Altar, the Gilded Organ’s facings, the ceilings of the gilded choir (partially restored), as well as numerous Antique Furniture and frames within the Religious Institute. He also formed part of the team for the restoration of the Cornices, the Capitals, the Vaults and the Nave of this unique church.
Luigi Maria become an antique restorer in 1983, after 3 years apprentiship by Masters Gianluigi Nardi and Carla Tessarolo in Rome. During his early works he also restored XVI century Crucifixes and Processionary-lamps for the local church of San Paolo in Genazzano (near Rome), furniture and frames for the American Embassy in Rome. In 1986 he moved to Altyre Estate, in the Scottish Highlands where he established his workshop and started trading as Traditional Antique Restoration. He worked on many antique collections (Cawdor Castle, Dalcross Castle, Cullen House, Balnagown Castle, Brodie Castle, Cluny Castle, etc..), forming a team of employees and professional woodcarvers. During his stay in Scotland he was often consulted by Interior Designers and Architects, attended courses in conservation, management and business, teaching antique restoration and gilding and giving lectures and Study Days to various cultural and professional associations.
Recently, after completing his works in the Church of Sant’Antonio, he started teaching from his own workshop in Cerveteri, 30 minutes from Rome, and occasionally travels to assist professionals craft-persons in different projects both in Italy and abroad. He often visits his grown up children and grandchildren in Scotland, and he’s available to work and teach his rare and specialist skills to hobbyists, artists and professional woodworkers also throughout the British Isle.
He now specialize in the restoration of pictures and mirror frames, including traditional water gilding, restoration of antique furniture and fittings, traditional wood finishes and conservation of antique collections.
If you like any aspect of his work and would like to further your interest don’t hesitate to contact him directly: Luigi Maria Villani [email protected] corsidirestauroedoraturalegno.com Whatsapp on +39 347 4458 008
UK Contact: Francesca Bell 07715548652 - Kirkcroft Skirling NL12 6HD
