Castellani opened his first workshop in
Rome in 1815. Initially, his designs reflected the fashions of the day and were generally based on
French and
English jewellery of the period. However, in the 1820s, Castellani began to develop the style for which he would become most famous. In collaboration with his friend and sponsor
Michelangelo Caetani - later the Duke of
Sermoneta and a noted archaeologist - Castellani began to draw inspiration from archaeological discoveries particularly those of the pre-Roman Estruscan culture. This collaboration introduced Castellani's jewelry to Roman nobility and helped expand his clientele throughout
Italy and
Europe. Fortunato Pio Castellani developed a special chemical technique called "giallone" to reproduce the warm, deep yellow shades of ancient gold. He presented this innovation at a prestigious academy in Rome in 1826. In 1836, archaeologists discovered the
Regolini-Galassi tomb, a particularly important Estruscan find that yielded a large amount of beautifully preserved jewellery. Because of his expertise in the field and his connections with Caetani, Castellani was enlisted as an advisor on the excavation. Much of the jewellery excavated was decorated with
granulation - tiny specks of gold applied to the surface. This technique was unknown to 19th century jewellers and Castellani was inspired by the discoveries to rediscover the lost art. Fortunato Pio Castellani founded a school for goldsmiths in 1840 with the aim of enhancing and applying ancient techniques, including glyptics and minute
mosaics. This effort helped safeguard traditional popular goldsmith techniques by collecting and preserving precious ornaments from rural areas. In the 1850s, Castellani passed management of the family business to his two sons Alessandro (1824–83) and Augusto (1829–1914) in whose hands it continued to flourish. The family were keen collectors and in addition to their jewellery business they dealt and restored antiquities extensively. Castellani's main shop was immediately adjacent to the
Trevi Fountain, one of Rome's most prestigious locations, and incorporated a museum of the family's collection. ==Further reading==