Arighi Bianchi

Arighi Bianchi is a furniture shop in the town of Macclesfield, Cheshire, England. It was founded in 1854 by Italian immigrants Antonio Arighi and Antonio Bianchi who originated from the village of Casnate on the shores of Lake Como.

Arighi Bianchi
Arighi Bianchi
LocationMacclesfield, Cheshire, England
Coordinates53.2608°N 2.1218°W / 53.2608; -2.1218
OS grid referenceSJ 920 738
Founded1854
Built forAntonio Arighi, Antonio Bianchi
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official nameShowroom premises of Messrs Arighi Bianchi
Designated18 September 1973
Reference no.1291854
Location in Cheshire

The shop is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building.[1] It has a cast iron and glass frontage, and stands close to Macclesfield Station and Tesco. The four-storey shop front was inspired by Paxton’s Crystal Palace of 1851. It was the work of a local builder George Roylance. It was saved from demolition in 1973 after a campaign supported by the Victorian Society, the Architectural Review magazine and Sir John Betjeman.[2]

History

Arighi Bianchi (pronounced a-ree-ghee bee-an-key) has been involved with furniture for over 150 years. In 1854 Antonio Arighi left the tiny silk-weaving town of Casnate near Lake Como to escape the ravages of the Italian civil war. After crossing the Alps by toboggan, Antonio arrived in Macclesfield, Cheshire. Antonio was soon joined by his nephew Antonio Bianchi, and the two men swiftly set up in business as cabinet makers.

The 19th century progressed not without incident, with Arighi’s intervention helping to save the town from flooding in 1872 and the decision to move to the current site in 1883. In the early 20th century, the store supplied furniture to Marlborough House and Sandringham House, by Royal Appointment of Edward VII, Queen Alexandra and Queen Mary.

See also

References
  1. Historic England, "Showroom premises of Messrs Arighi Bianchi, Macclesfield (1291854)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 22 March 2015
  2. Arighi Bianchi, Centre for the Urban Built Environment, archived from the original on 12 August 2010, retrieved 27 February 2011
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