For over three centuries, the Carlo Colla & Figli company has preserved the magical, intricate world of traditional Italian puppetry. Based in Milan, this legendary dynasty of puppeteers has enchanted global audiences, transforming hand-carved wooden marionettes into sublime actors of opera, drama, and fairy tales. This photographic reportage offers an exclusive, intimate look behind the scenes of their historic atelier before its recent relocation to a modern facility. Captured during the artistic direction of the late maestro Eugenio Monti Colla, the last direct descendant of the founding family, who passed away in 2017, these images document a romantic, irreplaceable era of craftsmanship.
A portrait of the late Eugenio Monti Colla, the last direct descendant of the famous Milanese family of puppeteers. He passed away in 2017 at the age of 78 while preparing an adaptation of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”A portrait of the late Eugenio Monti Colla, the last direct descendant of the famous Milanese family of puppeteers. He passed away in 2017 at the age of 78 while preparing an adaptation of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”Puppeteer Giovanni Schiavolin controls the complex string mechanics from the bridge during a rehearsal of Giuseppe Verdi’s opera “Attila.”Puppeteer Giovanni Schiavolin stands on the operating bridge, maneuvering an Attila puppet for Giuseppe Verdi’s opera of the same name.Artistic director Franco Citterio during the staging of Giuseppe Verdi’s opera “Attila” in Milan, Italy. He was introduced to puppet theatre at school by his teacher, Eugenio Monti Colla.Puppeteer Camillo Cosulich prepares to dress a marionette inside the Milanese studio. He joined the company in 2010 and is responsible for both puppet handling and stage lighting.A wide-angle shot of the main storage room at the Carlo Colla & Figli workshop in Milan, Italy. The historic room houses more than 3,000 marionettes and stage sets dating back to the 18th century.A vertical alternative shot showing rows of marionettes hanging from strings at the Carlo Colla & Figli workshop. The collection spans three centuries of Italian theatrical history.Close-up detail of 19th-century wooden marionettes hanging inside the puppet room at the Carlo Colla & Figli workshop. The collection features thousands of unique hand-carved characters.Close-up detail of 19th-century wooden marionettes hanging inside the puppet room at the Carlo Colla & Figli workshop. The collection features thousands of unique hand-carved characters.Close-up detail of 19th-century wooden marionettes hanging inside the puppet room at the Carlo Colla & Figli workshop. The collection features thousands of unique hand-carved characters.The set design for Giuseppe Verdi’s opera “Attila” on the atelier’s internal stage. In the background, artistic director Franco Citterio paints a scenic cloud backdrop.Puppeteer Debora Coviello works on a character in Milan, Italy. Her multi-disciplinary role includes costume maintenance, set building, and painting puppet heads.A seamstress named Cecilia focuses on fabric work inside the tailoring department of the historic Carlo Colla & Figli atelier in Milan, Italy.Puppeteers Debora Coviello and Camillo Cosulich collaborate to dress two wooden marionettes in the studio workshop ahead of a theatrical performance.A detailed close-up of a single 19th-century wooden marionette hanging inside the historic storage room of the Carlo Colla & Figli atelier.Close-up detail of 19th-century wooden marionettes hanging inside the puppet room at the Carlo Colla & Figli workshop. The collection features thousands of unique hand-carved characters.A wide-angle shot of the main storage room at the Carlo Colla & Figli workshop in Milan, Italy. The historic room houses more than 3,000 marionettes and stage sets dating back to the 18th century.A vertical alternative shot showing rows of marionettes hanging from strings at the Carlo Colla & Figli workshop. The collection spans three centuries of Italian theatrical history.Close-up detail of 19th-century wooden marionettes hanging inside the puppet room at the Carlo Colla & Figli workshop. The collection features thousands of unique hand-carved characters.A close-up view of unfinished wooden hands resting on a workbench inside the sculpture workshop of the Carlo Colla & Figli atelier.Puppeteer and craftsman Giovanni Schiavolin carves the wooden hands of a new puppet inside the sculpture workshop in Milan, Italy.A detailed macro shot of puppeteer Giovanni Schiavolin hand-carving wooden puppet components in the Milanese studio.A macro detail showing the craftsmanship of the historic 18th-century Gerolamo puppet, preserved at the Carlo Colla & Figli workshop in Milan, Italy.Detail of theatrical costume designs inside the Milanese studio. In the background hang the characters of Conte di Luna and Fernando from “Il Trovatore.”Costume designer Maria Grazia Citterio works in the tailoring workshop inside the historic Carlo Colla & Figli atelier in Milan, Italy. In 1987, she created the costumes designed by Renato Guttuso for Italo Calvino’s theatrical fairy tale “La foresta-radice-labirinto.”Detail of historical footwear and a late 19th-century embroidered silk satin dress. The garments were originally crafted by Gerolamo Ciabattino of London.
