Welcome to Est. 1999, the official blog of Abraham Translations. As is perhaps easy to surmise, the name of this blog reflects the year that Abraham Translations was founded.
It all began with the correction of a few texts that had been translated by another time-pressed translator. Within the year, translating had become my main source of income; now, it has long been the only way I put bacon on the table.
I am rather proud of many of the projects on which I have worked.
Est. 1999, basically, is a visual confirmation of past projects, a blowing of my own horn, a presentation of translator-related topics, and an occasional departure into other areas that I deem worthy of presenting. Enjoy.

Wednesday 21 October 2015

The Artists Labels of Fattoria Nittardi / Die Künstleretiketten von Nittardi

Nittardi is a family winery situated in the heart of the Chianti Classico region of Italy. The earliest known reference to the property, which is located on the boundary between the provinces of Siena and Florence, is a document from 1183 that refers to a defensive tower known a "Nectar Dei". By the 16th century, the expansive property belonged to the great Renaissance artist Michelangelo. Over the centuries the property changed hands often until, in the early 80s, it was taken over by the Frankfurt publisher and art gallerist Peter Femfert and his wife Stefania Canali, a historian from Venice. They restored Nittardi with love and care, and replanted the vineyards. Their son, Léon Femfert, has been involved full time at the winery since early 2013.
In honor of the artistic history of the winery, every year since 1981 a well-known artist has supplied the artwork for the label as well as the wrapping paper used for the Casanuova di Nittardi Vigna Doghessa wine bottles. The list of participating, internationally renowned artists includes, among others:  Hundertwasser, Corneille, A.R. Penck, Mitoraj, Yoko Ono, Horst Janssen, Valerio Adami, Eduardo Arroyo, Elvira Bach, Robert Combas and Mimmo Paladino.
To the thirtieth anniversary of the wine label tradition, Nittardi published this book featuring the complete collection of the by then 30 different artist labels and corresponding wrapping papers. The texts were supplied by the respected wine experts Jeannie Cho Lee MW and Thomas Schröder, and I did the translations.
The book, as well a broad selection of the fine Nittardi products, can be obtained at select fine shops or online at Stefania Canali.

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