A modern bookcase for an exclusive interior – Mascheroni

Authentic woodworking sculptures, the Grand Master shelf designed with a high level of emotional expression. The cabinet features a construction finished with Canaletto walnut wood in marquetry. Each handcrafted Italian Mascheroni product is marked with a plaque engraved with the brand name “Mascheroni srl Made in Italy,” confirming its authenticity.

MASCHERONI was founded approximately 40 years ago in Cabiate, a town near Milan, in the heart of the Brianza manufacturing district, where its headquarters are located. The company did not rest on its laurels; it began designing and producing special products and complete sets of prestigious furniture for its demanding clients—people seeking top-tier products, initially in Europe, and later worldwide. Mascheroni now operates in over eighty countries.

Today, MASCHERONI is one of the few brands that manages and controls the entire production cycle, ensuring excellent quality at every stage—from raw material selection, through manufacturing, to custom services. Everything is based on teamwork, as well as the skills and quality of individual artisans. Most elements of each product are handcrafted and made using the latest machinery. However, everything is then assembled entirely by hand, and it is no coincidence that one of the company's main goals is to ensure continuity by maintaining a high level of employee training and further development. Therefore, each senior master craftsman is paired with a junior artisan to complete their specialization path and also become a master.

Seeking excellence and continuous innovation are the foundations that characterize Mascheroni products, making the company recognized worldwide.

Extensive experience and in-depth knowledge of the materials used, production methods, and problem-solving solutions inherent to the products, combined with ongoing investments in research and development, ensure that the products are durable and will retain their value over time. Quality control is meticulously carried out throughout the entire production cycle, and materials are thoroughly examined to ensure quality compliance at each stage. The final product is carefully tested to ensure proper functioning and thoroughly analyzed to confirm it meets the aesthetic expectations set in the original design.

What quality of leather does Mascheroni use?

The leathers typically used in our sector are about 1.1 - 1.2 mm thick because they are cheaper and easier to process. These more common leathers are not part of Mascheroni’s sample range. The thinnest leathers the brand works with are about 1.4 mm, which is the starting point. Therefore, all prices listed are for products made with leather of this thickness. The company also offers various categories of leather, all significantly thicker and thus more challenging to process, but they provide greater durability for the final product. What makes their leather so difficult to work with, besides being two or even three times thicker than standard leathers, are the physical characteristics of the leather: for example, “vegetable-tanned leather” is truly difficult to bend.

NATURAL LEATHER of Mascheroni

These leathers are tanned to preserve all natural features and the excellence of the leather itself, including animal marks such as small insect bites, wrinkles, and various grain patterns. All these signs indicate that the product is genuinely natural and should be regarded as quality features. Mascheroni’s task is to ensure the best possible cutting of the leather so that these “marks” do not appear on visible parts of the products. Cowhide, mainly European, with a thickness of 1.4 to 1.5 mm, is chrome-tanned, aniline-dyed in drums, with a natural, full grain. It has a soft, warm, and exceptionally beautiful appearance. Cowhide, mainly European, with a thickness of 1.6 to 1.8 mm, is chrome-tanned, aniline-dyed in drums, with full grain. It features a semi-transparent, nearly smooth surface with aniline effect, and is “hard” and sturdy.

PELLE 3M / A

Full-grain European bovine leather, 2.2 mm thick, chrome-tanned, aniline-dyed in drum, natural grain, full. Feels like silk. A magnificent and delicate material with unparalleled beauty. Small imperfections guarantee that the leathers are natural.

PELLE 3M

Full-grain European bovine leather, 3–4 mm thick, chrome-tanned, aniline-dyed in drum, natural grain, full. Nearly 4mm thickness ensures long-lasting durability. The surface features extraordinary natural traces of the animal's life. Full-grain. Strong and warm.

Vegetable-tanned leather

Full-grain European bovine leather, 2.2 mm thick, vegetable-tanned, full. Semi-transparent smooth surface, strong and warm. An excellent material, incredibly beautiful. Available only as half hides. Vegetable tanning uses an old recipe that combines traditional processes with all currently available technologies. This process is carried out by tanners who pass their craft from generation to generation with care and passion, transforming raw hides into leather without harming the environment in any way. It relies on natural tannins extracted from trees, utilizing new technology and a lengthy processing time. The transformation of raw hide into unique, world-renowned leather takes nearly 40 days. Vegetable-tanned leathers bear traces of our lives. They age but do not deteriorate. Changes and personal use over time attest to the product's naturalness.

Over time, the tannin colors give the leather warm hues, which tend to become more pronounced on the surface of each item during use. As a result, products become unique, personal, and one-of-a-kind for each user. The product tends to evolve depending on how it is used, revealing its best side. Choosing a product made from this leather means owning a luxurious and truly unique item.

Using tannins results in extremely high-quality products: soft and smooth leathers, marked by full and glossy dyes, finished in all possible ways, suitable for any application. These products also boast impressive mechanical wear resistance, are fully sustainable, and have good water and temperature resistance—parameters often considered limitations for natural products.

The result is an item that excels in every way, combining excellent technical properties with the craftsmanship of materials from bygone eras. It features warm colors and a unique design, designed to last and improve over time. At the end of its lifecycle, it can be safely disposed of.

Wood

The Mascheroni wood collection includes over 10 different species from the “Mascheroni Wood Color System” catalog. The company strives to select only the best parts of the wood. The main structures of sofas and armchairs are mostly made from solid wood. In furniture production, solid wood is used only partially. This varies depending on the product, shape, and the desired aesthetic effect, which may require matching solid wood, plywood, shaped plywood, wooden slats, roots, and other enhanced materials.

Proof of Mascheroni's product quality and material excellence is also reflected in the weight of the final product. On average, the finished item weighs 50% more than a standard product. Knowledge of wood has led the company to explore diverse possibilities for creating new and increasingly exclusive collections. The final product is the result of the craftsmanship and innovation of artisans.

This reflects a desire and meticulous care to meet the demands of very discerning Mascheroni clients—people seeking custom-made, high-quality handcrafted products. It is undoubtedly a challenging field but one that allows the company to showcase its potential and brings great satisfaction.

Italian art and cultural heritage have always been at the heart of the brand's pride and identity. Throughout its history, Mascheroni has funded the restoration of some of Canova's artworks, organized art awards, supported historic sites such as Libreria Bocca (the oldest bookstore in Italy), and continuously funds important associations like FAI (Italian National Trust), which protects, restores, and opens historic sites and buildings across Italy to the public. Manufacturer information