Tiranti

Tiranti is a British specialist art-supply business whose roots extend to 1895, when it was established by Giovanni, also known as John, Tiranti. The company began in London and developed around the needs of artists, craftspeople, sculptors, and makers. Its retail assortment has traditionally centered on specialist tools and materials used for carving, mouldmaking, modelling, restoration, casting, and related forms of three-dimensional artistic production. It has also sold art books and other media, giving the business a role that extends beyond straightforward equipment retail. The company is particularly associated with the name Alec Tiranti. During the twentieth century, the business operated as an art-book publisher as well as a supplier. Under the Alec Tiranti name, it issued books and technical publications concerning sculpture, furniture, materials, artistic methods, and historical objects. Its publishing list included R. W. Symonds's book on veneered walnut furniture, Frederick Gibberd's work on built-in furniture in Great Britain, Ernő Goldfinger's British Furniture Today, and Joan Liversidge's study of furniture in Roman Britain. In sculpture and related art subjects, the company published works by Leon Underwood, including Masks of West Africa and Figures in Wood of West Africa, as well as technical titles such as New Materials in Sculpture and Modelled Portrait Heads. These publications helped establish the company as a specialist source of practical and reference knowledge for artists and designers. Tiranti's London premises were reportedly destroyed by bombing twice during the Blitz in the Second World War. The business subsequently continued through different locations and remained connected with specialist artistic and craft communities. The publishing operation ended after the death of Alec Tiranti in 1971, while the supply and retail activities continued. In 2005, the business moved to Thatcham. In 2021, Alec Tiranti was acquired by the Potterycrafts Business Group. The business was then relocated to Campbell Road in Stoke-on-Trent in September 2021, where Potterycrafts's headquarters are based. The move placed Tiranti within a broader specialist craft-supply group while retaining its focus on sculpture and associated making disciplines. Today, Tiranti is best understood as a specialist United Kingdom retailer and supplier rather than as a general department store or mass-market art brand. Its distinctive position comes from serving technically demanding, material-intensive practices, including sculpture, modelmaking, mould production, casting, conservation, and restoration. Its historical publishing activity remains an important part of the brand's identity, even though publishing is no longer its principal business.

Tiranti dates to 1895, when Giovanni (John) Tiranti founded the business in London. It developed as a specialist supplier serving artists and craftspeople, particularly those working in sculpture and other processes requiring dedicated tools, materials, and equipment. The business's product scope came to include supplies for carving, mouldmaking, modelling, restoration, and casting, as well as art books and media. The company also became a publisher during the twentieth century, operating prominently under the Alec Tiranti name. Its publishing programme covered furniture history, design, sculpture, artistic technique, and related cultural subjects. Among its furniture titles were R. W. Symonds's Veneered Walnut Furniture 1660–1760, published in 1947; Frederick Gibberd's Built in Furniture in Great Britain, published in 1948; Ernő Goldfinger's British Furniture Today, published in 1951; and Joan Liversidge's Furniture in Roman Britain, published in 1955. These books reflected an interest in both historical furniture and modern design. Sculpture and art formed another important part of the publishing list. Tiranti issued Leon Underwood's Masks of West Africa in 1951 and Figures in Wood of West Africa in 1964. It also published technical material, including Hubert Montagu Percy's New Materials in Sculpture in 1962 and T. B. Huxley-Jones's Modelled Portrait Heads, alongside technical booklets. The publication of Masks of West Africa was noted for its bilingual French-English presentation and photographs of masks that had not previously been widely illustrated. The firm's London premises were destroyed by bombing on two occasions during the London Blitz. Despite these disruptions, the business continued and later operated from other locations. Its publishing activities ended after Alec Tiranti died in 1971, while the supply and retail side of the enterprise remained active. In 2005, the business moved to Thatcham. In 2021, Alec Tiranti was purchased by Potterycrafts Business Group. The business subsequently relocated to Campbell Road in Stoke-on-Trent in September of that year, sharing the location associated with Potterycrafts's headquarters. This transaction and relocation marked the latest documented structural transition in the company's history. Tiranti's present identity is therefore built from two connected legacies: a long-running specialist supply business and a historically significant art and design publishing operation. Its current activities are centered on supplying tools, equipment, materials, books, and media to specialist creative users in the United Kingdom.

• 2021

  Acquisition and relocation to Stoke-on-Trent

  [1]Tirantien.wikipedia.org

  Potterycrafts Business Group acquired Alec Tiranti, followed by a September relocation to Campbell Road in Stoke-on-Trent.

• 2005

  Relocation to Thatcham

  [1]Tirantien.wikipedia.org

  The business moved from its previous location to Thatcham.

• 1971

  Publishing activity ends

  [1]Tirantien.wikipedia.org

  The publishing side of the business ended following Alec Tiranti's death.

• 1962

  Technical sculpture publishing

  [1]Tirantien.wikipedia.org

  Tiranti published Hubert Montagu Percy's New Materials in Sculpture as part of its technical art programme.

• 1951

  British Furniture Today and Masks of West Africa published

  [1]Tirantien.wikipedia.org

  The Alec Tiranti imprint issued Ernő Goldfinger's British Furniture Today and Leon Underwood's Masks of West Africa.

• 1947

  Furniture publishing programme expands

  [1]Tirantien.wikipedia.org

  The company published R. W. Symonds's study Veneered Walnut Furniture 1660–1760.

• 1895

  Business founded in London

  [1]Tirantien.wikipedia.org

  Giovanni (John) Tiranti established the business, which later became known for specialist art supplies and publishing.

A specialist British supplier for sculptors, modelmakers, restorers, and other three-dimensional artists, combining technical materials and equipment with specialist art literature.

• Sculpture supplies

  Sculpture tools and equipment

  Tiranti supplies specialist tools and equipment for sculptors and other makers working in three-dimensional media. The range is associated with practical studio processes rather than general stationery or hobby retail, supporting activities such as shaping, forming, finishing, and preparing sculptural work.

• Technical art materials

  Mouldmaking and casting supplies

  The business provides materials used in mouldmaking and casting, two technical stages common to sculpture, model production, restoration, and reproduction. These supplies serve users who need dedicated materials for creating moulds, forming copies, and producing finished cast objects.

• Sculpture materials

  Carving and modelling materials

  Tiranti's specialist assortment includes materials for carving and modelling. These products support artists and craftspeople developing subtractive or additive forms, with the retailer positioned around technical requirements of studio practice.

• Conservation and restoration

  Restoration supplies

  Restoration-related supplies form part of Tiranti's broader technical offering. They are intended for work involving the repair, conservation, or finishing of artistic and crafted objects, complementing the company's sculpture and casting categories.

• Art publishing and reference

  Art books and media

  Tiranti sells art books and media and has a historical connection to specialist publishing. Its former Alec Tiranti list included books on sculpture, furniture, design, materials, techniques, and cultural history.

• 2021

  Join Potterycrafts Business GroupM&A

  Background

  The specialist art-supply business was acquired by Potterycrafts Business Group.

  Action taken

  Ownership transferred to Potterycrafts Business Group, and the business was subsequently incorporated into the group's Stoke-on-Trent operating base.

  Aftermath

  Tiranti relocated to Campbell Road in Stoke-on-Trent in September 2021, where Potterycrafts's headquarters are based.

  Source

• 2021

  Alec Tiranti acquired by Potterycrafts Business Group[1]Tirantien.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Potterycrafts Business Group bought Alec Tiranti, bringing the specialist art-supply business into the group.

• 2021

  Tiranti relocated to Stoke-on-Trent[1]Tirantien.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Following the acquisition, the business moved to Campbell Road in Stoke-on-Trent in September 2021, alongside the Potterycrafts headquarters.

1. 1Tirantien.wikipedia.org
2. 2Tiranti official websitetiranti.co.uk