The company
The Carving and Artistic Activity of Val Gardena and the Dynamic Development of LEPI
Val
Gardena is one of the valleys with ancient rhaetoromanic
origins, deeply attached to its past, its traditions and its
own language. The main township is Ortisei which, together
with Selva and Santa Cristina, developed a flourishing artistic
handcraft industry due to the orders which have come to
their wood carvers from all over the world ever since 1700.
The first to carry out these orders, which were mainly for
religious items (altarpieces, tryptiches, crucifixes, cribs,
etc.), were members of the Vinatzer family and the Trebinger
brothers who were soon joined by other carvers.
In almost every home men and women applied themselves
to this occupation. The craft was perfected and noteworthy
works of art were created so that many of the valley-dwellers
saw their income increase considerably. Thus dealt
with the economic problem caused by the wanting agricultural
production, the wood carvers now needed easy routes
of comunication for their commerce. This was provided,
with help from the State, by the then Major of Ortisei, J. B.
Purger (1869), with the construction of a road at the bottom
of the valley which connected it with the regional capital.
Professional and Art schools grew up alongside the numerous
workshops and they represent the continuity of the
technical and creative ability which this valley has cherished
and which has made it famous and esteemed throughout
the world.
the founder Leo Prinoth
In 1920 Leo Prinoth Sr. founded a wood-carving workshop
called LEPI which still continues the same activity today.
At that time, the articles requested were mainly wooden appliances
for various uses, buttons, letters of the alphabet,
ornamental ciphres, brooches, bottle stoppers, weather houses,
clock cases, grandfather clocks and the like. Soon after,
profane and religious carvings were produced following
the artistic lines of famous artists such as Kreuzer, Prugger,
Nocker, Piccolruaz, Vallazza, Kaeser and Perathoner.
Weathered lime and stone pine was used and the results were
remarkable. Besides the numerous typically folkloristic
pieces, attention was increasing for religious figures and so
of course the nativity crib became of greater interest.
Leo Prinoth Sr. was succeeded by his son Leo Prinoth Jr. who carries on his father’s business and has kept the company name LEPI. The company has developed greatly and prides itself on its rich range of production; due to the attention given to quality it has gained an increase of 90% in its export.
It is thanks to Leo Prinoth Jr., who has entrusted artists such as Rupert, Reindl and Giner with the design of crib pieces as models for the new production line, that there is renewed interest in the crib and the desire to represent it with new and different distinctive traits and features.
It is worth noting that the various compositions can be modified and enlarged to a maximum of 100 figures as in the 9 versions already created.
So originates a woodcarving
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| Our models are made by renowned artists. | Weathered wood free of knots (maple, lime, oak, stone pine) is cut and carved with pantographs according to the artist‘s model. |
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| Then the delicate carving work is carried out by experienced woodcarvers. | Following this, the woodcarvings are carefully painted, stained or gilded according to traditional methods. |
Certificate
of Authenticity: By buying one of these woodcarvings you will have acquired
an artistic object of value which has been handmade in the LEPI workshops
after the original models made by famous ancient masters. Our LEPI signature
and trademark is a guarantee.