On October 29, 2026, starting at 6:00 PM, our shop at Corso di Porta Romana 1 will host a presentation of 8 rare swords—artifacts dating from the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries—from the collection of Vanna Ghiringhelli.

Vanna, who has been a collector for over 60 years and has authored several books on the subject, says: "Having these weapons at home—on our walls, right before our eyes—was like seeing everything my husband Mario and I had studied take tangible form; it was like reliving our adventurous journeys across Asia. It was a kind of badge we always wore with pride. Preserving these various types of Asian weapons gave us the feeling that we were saving a world that everyone else was forgetting."

In the photograph above: Burmese Dha sword

Joining Vanna will be Marco Briccola Asti, who could be described as an experienced protégé of hers. Marco Briccola has a keen interest in hoplology and anthropology. Over the years, he has gained a deep understanding of the complex world of the Indo-Malay *keris*—both through study trips and his own hands-on work in forging and artistic knife-making, a practice essential for grasping metallurgical processes and techniques. Both are board members of the Italy-Asia Cultural Center and rank among the world’s foremost experts and few dedicated collectors of edged weapons from the Orient.

In the photograph above: a Nimcha sword, typical of North Africa and Morocco

Reference Bibliography (books available for purchase on this site)

DAMASCO D’ORO DAMASCO D’ARGENTO – Vanna Ghiringhelli, Marco Briccola – Tralerighe 2023 – 45.00 euros

KATANA E KRIS – Vanna Ghiringhelli, Susanna Marino, Nicoletta Spadavecchia – Centro di Cultura Italia Asia 2013 – 25.00 euros

THE INVINCIBLE KRISES 2 – Vanna Ghiringhelli – Saviolo Publisher 2007 – 75.00 euros

KRIS HILTS – Vanna Ghiringhelli – 5 Continents Editions 2011 – 40.00 euros

THE AMAZING KERIS – Sandro Forgiarini – Olmis 2023 – 45.00 euros

THE INVISIBLE WORLD OF THE KRIS – Vanna Ghiringhelli – Tralerighe 2020 – 40.00 euros

On March 30th, starting at 5:30 PM, our shop at Corso di Porta Romana 1 will host a presentation of Vanna Ghiringhelli and Marco Briccola's new book, "Gold Damascus, Silver Damascus," about Asian weapons. "Having these weapons at home, on our walls, before our eyes, was like seeing in person everything my husband Mario and I had studied, like reliving our adventurous travels in Asia. It was a sort of badge we always wore with pride. Preserving the various types of Asian weapons gave us the feeling of saving a world that everyone was forgetting." Vanna Ghiringhelli, a refined collector and author of this book, captures its full meaning: much more than a catalogue raisonné of a precious collection, "Gold Damascus, Silver Damascus" is an act of love and care for a historical and cultural heritage at risk of being lost. A journey "on the cutting edge" that starts from Persia and arrives in the Philippines, passing through the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia (and beyond).

“The hand is the window of the mind” (E. Kant), and this event aims to be a tool, not an end, to reflect, with the author of the works, the sculptor Antonio Salinari, on craftsmanship and its natural relationship with art.

Chef, Santoku, Dao Bao, Gyuto, Takohiki are no characters in some Manga comics even if many of them are Japanese. They are actually kitchen tools, namely knives; these tools are thousands of years old and are used every day all over the world and in every country, with specific names, by professionals and by ourselves. On 19th April 2018 from 17:30 to about 19:30 F.lli Lorenzi in Corso di Porta Romana 1 in Milan, will organize a practical demonstration about the use of knives to prepare vegetables, meat and fish. On the occasion they will show preparations with Marco Vendoni - MasterChef 2017 and Valerio Braschi - winner of MasterChef 2017. The food prepared will be offered to participants as aperitif. 

On the 26th October from 17:30 to 19:30, in the F.lli Lorenzi’s shop in Corso di Porta Romana 1, some old sabers from 1850 to about 1900 belonging to different Cavalry units, including the Hussars of Piacenza and the “Guide” of Garibaldi, will be shown to the public and commented on by the collector Roberto Dusi.

Pocket knives and, in general, short blades were historically born for specific working requirements and, since the very beginning, were conceived to be used in battle or for social acknowledgement. Today old traditions are often re-interpreted by very skilled craftsmen who are able to create high-quality precious objects using new materials and finishing.

The peculiarity of these objects lies in their shape, but above all in their spiritual magic power called Tuah. The real Kris (which differs from the Kris for tourists) has the power of helping the owner attain his goals. Yet, they are far from being talismans or lucky charms. Their creation or purchase should take into account the personal characteristics of their future owners and be adjusted in order to favour them. Otherwise their effect might be a negative one. So there are types of Kris able to facilitate a smoother life (visibly marked by a “flowing” motif on the blade) by pushing away negative forces; whereas other kinds of Kris are especially made for businessmen or for people devoted to the most diverse life occupations.