THE BOOK OF SPORTS
Style and Passion, Art and Culture: a project that arises from the need to keep our philosophy tied to what our creations are. Since it often happens to neglect history, we wanted to undertake a search among ancient texts that led us to the beginning of this adventure.
The interest in sport and its origins is in fact linked to the discovery of our traditions and of what is intrinsic in the cultures of the ancient and modern world. The desire to tell stories is in fact driven by the desire to be able to transmit values even through products that are not normally carriers of culture.
And it is precisely in an accessory that is worn around the neck that the combination between the pleasure of wearing a garment and the interest in knowing its history and its meaning has matured.
A project that was possible thanks to the contribution of organizations, companies and people who believed in this idea. This is where we show our gratitude to them.
SKIING
The origin of the skis is very ancient. It seems there were born between Siberia and Mongolia, in the Atai Mountains area, even before the wheel. Tradition could also go back to the Lapps in the 4th century BC where peoples from Asia Minor they used “wooden shoes” to get around on the snow. The modern origins of skiing began to occur when the first technical innovations arrives at the end of the 19th century.
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GOLF
During the Roman Empire there was a game similar to that took the name of “paganica”. The modern origins instead date back to late medieval Scotland, when it is told two shepherds throwing themselves a stone with two sticks. It was not until 1744 in Edinburgh that the company of Gentlemen Golf players decided to transcribe the rules of its members and eventually founding current game of Golf.
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CAVALRY
The knights appears to have appeared for the first time in nomadic tribes of Russia where they used to ride bareback. Only later in Greece, they began to use of a pillow with the straps. Then the Romans were the first to use the saddle. In Greek and Roman history, those who knew how to ride acquired an added value in society.
Horse riding was also considered to be beneficial for the health of the youth.
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HORSE RACING
Horse racing has its roots in famous ancient sculptures, including Persia, Greece, Egypt and Babylon. Many of these ancient horse races featured a horse-drawn carriage, an aspect that has carried over to modern racing. Horse races were introduced in 680 B.C. during the 25th OLYMPIC GAMES in Greece, but only became common place after 2500 years and then only in the 1800s, when nobles began to challenge each other in gallop races: races without prize money, in the countryside, in unpaved city avenues that were only for honours and showcases.
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TENNIS
The game of tennis has very distant roots. The first evidence of such games dates back to the Middle Ages.
In France Jeu de Paume, in Italy Pallacorda, the ancestor of the game of tennis was widespread in courts across Europe as early as 1100. Initially, the ball was thrown barehanded, then with a glove, and it was not until 1521 that a racket was used. A continuous evolution that led to the game we know today.
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FORMULA 1
Motor sport was born out of man's instinct to challenge himself and his own achievements. In 1895, the first real motor race in history was
held, the Paris-Bordeaux-Paris. The first major international race
was the Gordon Bennett Cup. Dating back to 1900, it was the beginning of modern motor racing. Over the years, these races became more and more numerous until, around 1910, real Grand Prix races began to be held.
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POLO
Originating in India and already practiced in 300 B.C. under the name Sagol Kangjei, it spread first to Persia and then to most of Asia. It then spread to Arabia and Tibet, where it took the name 'pulu', meaning 'root', perhaps in reference to the tree (willow) from which the material for making the ball was extracted. It later spread to China and Japan, where it enjoyed enormous success. Discovered by the English in the 18th century, it was imported to Europe during the following century.
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CIRCUS
The biggest show in the world: a destined dream to conquer children and adults through playand imagination. We must go back to ancient Egypt to find the origins of the circus: magic ritual practices religious and mystics, where jugglers and dancers cheered the court of the pharaoh. In ancient Rome the shows of gladiators and horses filled the master theaters and amphitheatres. The tradition of the modern circus stems from the art of the acrobats, men who writhing their bodies outnumbered their physical limits.
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FOOTBALL
Episkyros, from the Greek “ played with the feet” takes us to the ancient Greece passing from imperial Rome to reach the middle ages. The contested ball was leather made, filled with bran and hay. The home of modern football is England: English colleges were inspired by the Florentine football that was practiced in medieval era in Florence. In 1848 football in England was an elite sport: only young students of schools and college played football. The classes always consisted of ten students, plus the teacher wo always play with them. This is the reason why it is played with 11 players.
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