Bottega Montana

Brand Overview

The term "Bottega" refers to the Renaissance concept of the Florentine Bottega, where the artist worked in close association with his students and trainees. The Bottega was a busy, active place, dedicated to creation and training--a place of movement, ideas, and experimentation. The creation of two Italian designers and brothers living in Montana, Bottega Montana is a furniture design studio dedicated to classic materials and craftsmanship while revitalizing the form with contemporary engineering techniques.

Brand History

After graduating with honors from the Academy of Fine Art in Rome, Francesco Gillia moved to Southern California, where he developed and refined his skills as a product designer for the Powerline 6 design company. During this period, his brother Marco worked for an architectural firm in their home town of Monte Porzio Catone, in Italy. In the early '00s, the two brothers moved to Lima, Montana, to launch the furniture design studio Bottega Montana.

The pair set out to crate a furniture collection with a classic feel, incorporating a modern sensibility through the engineering details of the Bottega Montana joint system. The patent-pending system allows an item of furniture to be put together or dismantled in minutes, and it has become one of the signature Bottega Montana furniture design features.

Joint System Design

Within the Joint System, each piece is hand-shaped and slightly different from every other piece. The system consists of four interlocking pieces, which are wedged together using no screws or nails. Because no hardware is used, the wood is not damaged when put together. Left to mature in its own time, the table takes on warm patina, incorporating scratches, nicks and surface blemishes into a rich surface. Thick slabs of hard wood are used in Bottega Montana furniture, all taken from sources that practice sustainableforest management.