What turned a small Spanish craft workshop, founded in 1952 by Jose María Simó, into an international byword for luxury interior fittings can be summed up in three words: passion, flair, craftsmanship. Sixty years later, the Valencia-based company is still a family-owned and run business that focuses on impossibly chic bathroom fixtures and decorative hardware, but with a huge global presence. Cast in pure bronze embellished with crystal, their products grace prestige public buildings and residences all over the world.
Marta Planell, granddaughter of the founder and the company’s Director of Communications, is clear about the importance of hands-on family ownership: “Our strength is our family and our love of what we do. We are the third generation, yet we have the same passion as we had on Day 1—our heritage is our future.” The fact that the workforce numbers around forty highly experienced craftsmen (several have worked for the company for over forty years) and that many are now passing their skills on to their own children, offers an impressive demonstration of ‘heritage’ in action. It’s this continuity that has enabled Bronces Mestre to build the quality standards that define the brand, together with high-tech production methods and the unparalleled craftsmanship of artisans at the top of their game.
A fruitful meeting between Jose María Simo and Gernot Langes-Swarovski in 1986 led the company to begin using crystal in their designs, turning beautiful bronze hardware into “fine jewelry for the home, as well as for commercial interiors,” as it has been described. “Today, crystal is part of our brand identity, as well as integral to most of our luxury projects around the world,” says Marta Planell. “Swarovski is synonymous with glamour, fashion, elegance, and our design philosophy is based on similar qualities. The result speaks for itself—amazing.”
Her ultimate vision is to see Bronces Mestre’s craftsmanship compared with the extraordinary work found in buildings of ancient grandeur. Think the Hermitage in Saint Petersburg, the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, or Versailles, then fast-forward the film a couple of centuries. Indeed, why shouldn’t such stunning artistry become an intrinsic part of today’s iconic buildings? Capturing the stellar achievements of this Spanish company would be a fitting tribute to its substantial contribution to posterity.
http://bit.ly/185yNCP – One to Watch: Bronces Mestre
