Carl Giordano, Tinsmith - Biographical Information

Items of Interest & Latest News
	March 2008 - We received notification of acceptance into Early American Life Magazine's 2008 Directory of Traditional American Crafts. This is the 13th consecutive year we have joined some of the best artisans in the county in receiving this honor. The Directory issue of EAL (August) will be available in June.
	March 2008 - *Watch for Giordano tinware in the HBO Miniseries John Adams, scheduled to run March 16 - April 20.*
	May 2007 - We are selected for Early American Life Magazine's 2007 "Directory of Traditional American Crafts." Our triple sconce is featured in the Directory Issue of the magazine that showcases a sampling of Directory artisans' work.
	May 2006 - Early American Life Magazine's 2006 "Directory of Traditional American Crafts" features our 19th C. botanist's vasculum on page 45. This is the 11th consecutive year we have been selected for inclusion in the "Directory."
	Winter 2006 - We are honored with a commission to replicate the tinware items in George Washington's camp kitchen trunk for the site of his final headquarters, Rockingham (NJ), at the end of the Revolution. The original camp kitchen box is owned by and on display in the Smithsonian's Museum of American History. Among the tin items are nesting camp kettles, plates, platters, tinderbox, and a tea box. See our reproductions of GW's kitchen items here: http://livinghistoryshop.com/LHSmesskit.html http://livinghistoryshop.com/LHStinware.html
.	June 25, 2005-- The 2005 Yankee Peddler Foundation Crafter/Artist of the Year Award was presented to Carl & Marcia Giordano during an awards dinner at Tangier Restaurant, Akron, OH. "The Giordanos were recognized both for their craft, tinsmithing, and also for their dedication to the education and the arts and crafts communities. The Yankee Peddler Foundation created the Award to recognize the superlative aratistry and handcrafting of this region and to afford greater public knowledge of the many excellent crafters and artists who live and work here. The Crafter/Artist of the Year Award is the only one of its kind in the Midwest.." The Giordanos were selected from a list of ten nominees which was drawn up by professional crafters, artists, and show promoters
	June 2005 We were honored with selection for the 2005 Early American Life Magazine's "Directory of Traditional American Crafts" (or Top 200 Craftsmen) This is our 10th consecutive year in the "Directory." We submitted entries in both the Reproduction and Adaptation classes and were selected in both classes. See the August issue of EAL or subscribe online here.
	Feb. 2005 We created a large number of props for the movies "Pirates of the Caribbean" 2 & 3. We were pleased to see Johnny Depp use one of our spice shakers to "season" himself with paprika in Pirates 2.
	We saw our tin botanist's vasculum actually being used in the movie Master & Commander, The Far Side of the World in a scene shot on the Galapagos Islands. While we have made numerous movie props, this is the first time we have actually seen one of them in use on the big screen. The movie is a "must-see" for history buffs, as there has been a great deal of attention paid to period-correct details.
	The 2003 HGTV holiday special, White House Christmas Memories, was a look back at White House Christmas decor from the past seven years. In the 1999 segment, there was a piece from the 1999 HGTV White House special in which we are featured for our tin and brass cocked hat ornament. This special aired on December 14th and again on Christmas Day 2003.
	We have received notification that Early American Life Magazine has selected us for the 2003 "Directory of Traditional American Crafts." This makes the eighth consecutive year we have been directory members. The directory craftsmen are chosen anonymously by a jury of experts from various museums. The complete listing of directory craftsmen was published in the December 2003 issue of EAL.
	We were commissioned in 2002 to provide props for two movies that will open in 2003. We created a reproduction botanist's specimen case, or vasculum, for Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World that stars Russell Crowe & Paul Bettany. This movie will be in theatres on November 14, 2003. Official website and trailer for Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World: http://www.masterandcommanderthefarsideoftheworld.com/ Pirates of the Caribbean, a Disney Studios production starring Johnny Depp, ordered a number of pieces of our reproduction tinware for their movie which will be in theatres July 9, 2003. Official website and trailer for Pirates of the Caribbean: http://bventertainment.go.com/movies/pirates/#
	The NPS commissioned us to make several pieces to be used aboard The Friendship, a new reproduction of an 18th c.sailing ship docked at Salem, MA. Salem Maritime National Historic Site is the permanent home for the vessel which is open to visitors. The items commissioned included a breadbox, a lantern, a tray, and a speaking trumpet. The Friendship website The Friendship
	Early American Life *Magazine* offered our original Angel Sconce for sale in its 2002 Christmas issue in "The Early American Look," pages 78 & 79. Photo of Angel Sconce
	Our brass angel ornament was selected for the 2002 Ohio Governor's Residence Christmas Tree as part of a program called "Treasures for the Tree." Ohio's First Lady, Hope Taft, began this program in 2000, and it has become an annual event. Fifty to seventy-five ornaments are chosen each year to decorate the Ohio First Family's tree, and the Tafts entertain the craftsmen at a special evening reception at the residence in early December. Photo of brass angel ornament
	*Early American Life Magazine* has honored our craftsmanship by selecting us for the 2002 "Directory of Traditional American Crafts/Top 200 Craftsmen" which is published annually in the August/September issue (available at newsstands in June). We are deeply grateful for receiving this honor for 7 consecutive years. The 2002 Aug-Sept issue of EAL features photos of nine of our pieces displayed among the wares of our fellow "Directory of Traditional American Crafts" members. The following are the items pictured: 18th C. tea cannister, spice shelf and 3 tins, matchsafe, Shaker candlestick, camp kettle, 18th c. tin cup, 18th C. coffeepot, candlebox, and cheese mold.
	The Ohio Governor's Residence is now home to our miniature cocked hat ornament constructed of tin and brass. The ornament was one of 54 selected from among statewide entries by Ohio artists and craftsmen. All selected ornaments were displayed on Governor and Mrs. Taft's 2001 Christmas tree in the Governor's Residence. Craftsmen whose ornaments were selected were invited to a reception in their honor at the Governor's Residence in early December. Click here to see our ornament
	Our 18th C. reproduction sidespout coffeepot was featured in the Early American LIfe magazine's "Side By Side" exhibit at the 2001 Mount Vernon 18th C. Fair held at the estate of George Washington. Our sidespout coffeepot was reproduced from an 18th C. painting by Joseph van Auken (view photo).
	Early American Life magazine (formerly Early American Homes), the February 2001 issue, features our Pierced Tin Pocket Heart for sale in "The Early American Look," pages 78 & 79.
	It was our great pleasure to be invited by President and Mrs. Clinton to create an ornament for the 1999 White House Blue Room Christmas Tree. The decorating theme, "Holiday Treasures at the White House," focused on our rich national heritage. We inscribed the following inside the tin & brass ornament--*"dedicated to our first heads* of state." Photo of our Yankee Doodle Cocked Hat.**
	Home & Garden TV's "WHITE HOUSE CHRISTMAS 1999," an HGTV Holiday Special, featured a segment showing us re-creating our ornament in our home workshop. The program aired several times between December 19 and December 25, 1999. (HGTV taping in our shop) (HGTV taping in our shop - view 2)
	We were invited, along with the many other contributing artists and artisans, to a special tour of the White House on December 17. The holiday decorations were exquisite, and we were delighted to see our ornament displayed on the beautiful velvet tree skirt at the base of the Blue Room Tree. ( view photo) Enjoy a photo of the whole Blue Room Tree (view photo).
	*VIEW* a photo of our tin pitcher which was featured in the August 1999 "Directory" issue of Early American Homes magazine (view photo)
	Our work has been featured in Early American Homes magazine's "Side by Side" exhibits at the "Craft Fair at Mount Vernon" in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 & 2001. Our new Mount Vernon lantern was displayed in the EAH booth during the 2000 Craft Fair at Mount Vernon. (view photo)
	We were honored to receive a "Presentation Award" at the first annual " Crafts Fair at Mount Vernon" in September 1997, held on the grounds of George Washington’s mansion in Virginia.
	We produce reproduction tinware for museums & living history enthusiasts.
	We demonstrate our craft and sell our wares at a number of well-known high quality craft festivals and living history events in several states each year.
	Carl volunteered as the Master Tinsmith with the Ohio Historical Society site of Zoar Village for 6 years.
	We have produced reproduction items used in demonstrations at Hale Farm & Village in Bath, Ohio, Historic Zoar Village, in Ohio and at Winterthur Museum in the state of Delaware.
	Our love of music brought us together at Bowling Green State University, where we both earned Bachelor of Music degrees in Education. Carl, retired in 1997, taught music in Ohio schools for 30 years.
	Memberships--Past & Present
	Ohio Arts & Crafts Guild
	Brigade of the American Revolution (BAR) Merchant Members (Current)
	Northwest Territory Alliance (NWTA) Civilian/Merchant Members
	Early American Industries Association
	Rushlight Club
	Society of Volunteers at Zoar
	Western Reserve Historical Society
	West Virginia Arts & Crafts Guild
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