Our History

The wrought iron production of Sottoguda began in 1923 with Carlo De Biasio , who learned the first rudiments of this noble art from a craftsman in nearby Val Gardena.
Once back in his native country, he began to create his first works (mostly tools for lumberjacks and farmers), passing on his art to his son Ermanno and later to his grandsons Carlo and Davide , the last wrought iron blacksmiths of Sottoguda who even now, with the same passion and professionalism, continue to create ornamental and furnishing pieces that are unique in their kind for their originality and finishing details.
...from the account of a journalist passing through Sottoguda in the distant 1925...
"Few are the seekers of solitary beauties who, having arrived in Caprile, take the road to Sottoguda at the foot of the Marmolada, and even these few, almost none, stop in the small village of Sottoguda. While we comfort ourselves with a glass of tasty beer, our eye falls on the windows of the tavern reduced to shop windows and crammed with wrought iron objects of remarkable beauty. We ask the owner: "Where are these wrought irons made?" "Here!" "Here, where?" "Here at home, my children make them."

Things get interesting: finding in this miserable group of houses at the foot of the Marmolada, such a fresh and expert art forge, has all the flavour of a discovery.

The innkeeper adds: "Now my son will show you his masterpieces, here he comes!" A handsome boy of about 20 years old with clear mountaineer eyes appeared; he was wearing a pair of worn gray-green trousers and a dark shirt: a proud poem of male pride, combined with domestic thrift.

Let's go into the workshop. Calling this miserable hole a workshop is a crime against the propriety of language; a single hovel, a real smoky den, where, to see us working, you have to keep the door wide open. Bare, with no other tools than a few hammers, some awls and a poor welding torch. More than one qualified blacksmith would struggle to make horseshoes in this shop. Instead, the other brother is beating a plate with very graceful cherubs and garlands of flowers, so light that it gives off a musical sound. A dragon about two meters long and a large chandelier with animal and floral motifs appear to be two authentic works of art, worthy of coming out of any celebrated workshop.

Unfortunately, there are few tourists who, upon arriving in Caprile, turn their car towards Val Pettorina and if someone passes by the Sottoguda tavern, no one imagines that inside, thanks to the work of the De Biasio brothers, works worthy of the noblest Italian art are born."