The Silvestri Family has been in the statuary business for six generations. Arcangelo Silvestri and his two brothers settled in San Francisco in 1900. They began manufacturing ornamental moulding and figurines out of plaster of Paris, which they peddled door to door. At that time, their most popular statue was the kewpie doll. Their business prospered until the Great Depression. They returned to their native village, Bagni di Lucca, in the region of Tuscany.
In 1956, Arcangelo’s son and grandson, Adorno and Alfeo (Luigi) Silvestri, immigrated to the United States, settling in San Francisco. Together, Adorno and Luigi founded A. Silvestri Company Fine Statuary. They reproduced and manufactured a variety of garden ornaments in precast concrete. A. Luigi Silvestri dedicated his life to creating a traditional family business of statue manufacturing. He changed the image of the statuary business by not only producing locally made quality products, but by also importing a variety of items from around the globe. Luigi could be found daily at his factory, overseeing production, cooking traditional dishes, and entertaining guests until he passed away at the age of 79. Although Luigi is greatly missed, his spirit lives on in his products.
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