Thread: My Mastro Livi razor, at last: a wonderful life experience!

The day I had in my hands Mastro Livi "Rasoio Italiano" (Italian Razor) I have always had something in my mind: that razor needed to have a good "Italian" companion, or possibly two. And I mean a brush and a strop having handles looking like this razor's scales. Yesterday I went to Mastro Livi laboratory because I wanted him to start the making of such a "shaving kit", when I suddenly changed my mind. I already own a Mastro Livi shave brush having a makassar ebony handle, not so different from black African ebony used for "Rasoio Italiano". I knew I wanted a different looking brush, very different from the one I already have.
For this reason, I changed my mind and thought about ordering an "Italian shave kit" consisting of a matching brush, strop and razor. I started from the brush and, the next weeks/months, the kit will be completed by matching Mastro Livi loom strop and Mastro Livi straight razor. It will take sometime, but - sooner or later - I will have a complete "Mastro Livi Italian Shave Kit" and, you guess it, I am excited about this idea.
I knew I wanted a brush "tailored" to my hand and - by taking advantage of Mastro Livi skill, art, talent and craftsmanship - we designed this brush with a very particular handle. Not only the size and shape of the handle has been made according to my hand size, it is also the result of the assembling of five different woods, stainless steel and an Italian flag inlay. The woods/burls used for the handle are olive burl (it is an Italian brush so we wanted at least one Italian wood), makassar ebony, juniper wood (another Italian wood), pau violeta and amboyna burl. The loft is the well known Mastro Livi Silvertip badger, in my opinion, one of the best around for quality and performance. The Italian flag inlay is made of jade, white turquoise and coral.
I took pictures of the making of my Mastro Livi "Pennello Italiano" and I will be very glad to share them with you all. Little by little, I will publish them in the forthcoming days and I will do the same for the loom strop and razor when I decide to order them. At the end I will finally own a Mastro Livi shave kit and, you guess it, I am very excited by this idea: a matching straight razor, brush and strop is absolutely an elegant and exclusive way of shaving. All hand made by Mastro Livi, one of the greatest and finest Italian artists and craftsmen. Stay tuned!

Mastro Livi Pennello Italiano (Italian Brush) - Silvertip Badger - 24 mm knot
(Front View)

Handle composition (from top to bottom)

• Stainless steel ring
• Olive burl
• Makassar ebony
• Juniper wood
• Pau Violeta
• Two-Color Amboyna Burl
• Italian Flag Inlay: Jade (green), White Turquoise (white), Coral (Red)
• Stainless steel plate hand signed by Mastro Livi

Mastro Livi Pennello Italiano (Italian Brush) - Silvertip Badger - 24 mm knot
(Back View)

Notice the red colored amboyna burl in the bottom

Wow! That is one unique handle Antonello! Very, very nice! Congrats and enjoy it in good health.

Originally Posted by Attila

Wow! That is one unique handle Antonello! Very, very nice! Congrats and enjoy it in good health.

This truly is a stunning, unique and wonderful masterpiece! I will certainly enjoy it at each shave! Thank you.

Originally Posted by razorguy

This truly is a stunning, unique and wonderful masterpiece! I will certainly enjoy it at each shave! Thank you.

I love it!!!!

Another masterpiece from Mastro Livi, He is a real Mastro

I am very glad to post the first pictures of the making of my Mastro Livi "Pennello Italiano". It will take some day before I post all the pictures I took, so stay tuned!

Mastro Livi sketching the Italian Brush on a sheet of paper. The making of custom shave brushes is not so different from razors. You tell Mastro Livi your idea and how you would like you custom shave brush should be, he eventually adds his ideas to yours and I strongly suggest you to welcome his ideas, not to mention when it comes to straight razors.




Mastro Livi removing the edges on a block of amboyna burl




Mastro Livi operating the lathe and rounding the block of amboyna burl




Mastro Livi making a cylinder out from the block of amboyna burl

Originally Posted by razorguy

I am very glad to post the first pictures of the making of my Mastro Livi "Pennello Italiano". It will take some day before I post all the pictures I took, so stay tuned!

Mastro Livi sketching the Italian Brush on a sheet of paper. The making of custom shave brushes is not so different from razors. You tell Mastro Livi your idea and how you would like you custom shave brush should be, he eventually adds his ideas to yours and I strongly suggest you to welcome his ideas, not to mention when it comes to straight razors.




Mastro Livi removing the edges on a block of amboyna burl




Mastro Livi operating the lathe and rounding the block of amboyna burl




Mastro Livi making a cylinder out from the block of amboyna burl

This is great. I like this very much. Mastro Livi has endless knowledge!

I need to get to Perugia some day soon.
Love to watch him work in person.
Thanks for posting.

Originally Posted by MikeB52

I need to get to Perugia some day soon.
Love to watch him work in person.
Thanks for posting.

I am sure you would not regret visiting Perugia and Mastro Livi laboratory. Hope to see you here very soon.

Originally Posted by MikeB52

I need to get to Perugia some day soon.
Love to watch him work in person.
Thanks for posting.

Same here Mike. If I ever get the money, we can all go together!