Fonderia d’Arte Massimo Del Chiaro is one of Pietrasanta’s established artistic bronze foundries
Fonderia d’Arte Massimo Del Chiaro is one of Pietrasanta’s established artistic bronze foundries, specializing in the traditional lost-wax process (fusione a cera persa). Massimo Del Chiaro began learning the trade at the Vittorio Lera foundry in Viareggio in 1949. As the business expanded, a purpose-built foundry was opened on Via delle Iare in 1985; the Del Chiaro family continues the operation today, working with artists from around the world.
The facility covers approximately 7,000 square meters and is organized around the complete production of bronze sculpture. An artist can arrive with a finished model, a small model requiring enlargement, or even a drawing or photograph from which the project can be developed. The foundry handles enlargement, mold making, silicone negatives, wax production and retouching, gating, lost-wax casting, chasing and metal finishing, internal armatures, assembly, patination, and preparation for transportation and installation. Large clay enlargements—up to approximately six meters—can be developed within the facility, and a twelve-meter crane is available for assembling monumental works.
The foundry is particularly useful to sculptors because the artist is not separated from the production process. Dedicated working spaces are available within the facility, allowing sculptors to inspect and retouch enlargements and remain involved as their work moves from model through mold, wax, bronze, finishing, and patina. The foundry also assists with documentation for international import and export of completed sculpture.
Studio Directory
Studio Information
- Studio type
- Foundry Arts
- Location
- Pietrasanta, Lucca (LU) | Tuscany | Italia, Italy
- Address
- Via delle Iare, 26/B
- Website
- https://www.delchiaro.com/
- fonderia@delchiaro.com
- Telephone
- +39 0584 792955
- Visiting notes
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Specialties: Sculpture enlargement, mold making, silicone molds, wax casting and retouching, lost-wax bronze casting, bronze chasing and finishing, welding and assembly, structural armatures, patination, special alloys and surface treatments, monumental sculpture, sacred art, funerary sculpture, classical reproductions, packing, transportation, and installation.
The foundry welcomes visitors by appointment, and specifically states that priority is generally given to professionals and students in the arts—including sculptors, artists, fine-art academies, universities, and art-school classes. A typical visit takes approximately 45–60 minutes.
A visit can follow virtually the entire bronze process: the enlargement department; mold making with plaster and silicone; wax production and retouching; gating; investment and kiln preparation; bronze pouring; removal of the refractory investment; sandblasting; metal finishing; and patination. For a sculptor, this makes Del Chiaro particularly valuable because the foundry can be experienced as a complete working sequence rather than simply a place where bronze is poured.