Deodara’s roots trace back not only to 1977, when Sebastiano began working in his father Giuseppe's garage, but also to the rich history of its region and country. In Bassano del Grappa, the earliest records of wood artisans date back to 1175. At that time, the population of Bassano was about 2,500, and carpenters constituted a significant portion of the inhabitants. They worked with timber sourced from the forests surrounding the town, but by the early 1200s, they needed to rely on Vicenza for construction wood from nearby Solagna. Concurrently, timber trade via waterways was developing, and in 1259 the Statutes of Bassano regulated the floating of logs along the Brenta River. It’s notable that the river remained the main timber trade route until the early 1900s when improved roads and the advent of rail transport made land transportation more economical.

The need for wood artisans to form their "Fraglia" or guild soon emerged, and in 1437, the municipality approved the "Matricola" of the Marangoni guild. Membership in the Fraglia was a recognition of both professional skill and the carpenter's moral standing. Over the years, the timber trade led to the establishment of numerous water-powered sawmills along the Brenta River. By the late 18th century, a dozen sawmills operated in towns like S. Nazario and Solagna, with others in Angarano, Nove, and Cartigliano. These sawmills marked the beginning of timber depots that supplied carpenters with ready-to-use boards, beams, and planks. Alongside carpenters, various other trades emerged, including wood turners, cartwrights specializing in wooden wheels, coopers for barrels and vats, wood carvers, clog makers, and more.

The production of furniture in Bassano dates back to at least the 1500s. During this period, figures like Andrea Palladio, the renowned architect of the Venetian Republic, and others such as Vincenzo Scamozzi and Baldassare Longhena influenced the region significantly. These masters enriched the territory with their art and shared their expertise, fostering an artistic heritage. By the 18th century, Bassano’s furniture industry had achieved notable quality and stylistic innovations. Throughout the 19th century, woodwork in Bassano was mainly carried out by craftsmen or small family businesses that produced custom furniture and joinery. This tradition laid the foundation for the production of wooden furniture by specialized carpenters, which began in the late 19th century thanks to Vincenzo Brandestini.

At the outbreak of World War I, Brandestini's factory had reached its peak, employing 15 workers and producing artistic furniture in carved and inlaid wood. His workshop trained many skilled artisans who continued the craft independently, including Merlo, Zonta, and Brian—the latter eventually becoming a master teacher at the city’s School of Art and Crafts. Between the two World Wars, Bassano’s artistic furniture industry further expanded. The district’s history traces back to early restorers who repaired 17th- and 18th-century furniture from the region’s many villas. In these workshops, meticulous reproductions of original furniture were created, along with a deep understanding of the construction characteristics and diverse woods used. Craftsmen perfected techniques for replicating the patina, stains, burns, and marks of aging, preserving traditional methods and passing them on to new generations. During this period, Bussandri expanded his workshop, eventually introducing artistic furniture making, while Sebastiano worked within the business, learning every aspect of production over ten years before starting his own venture in 1977.

It’s also worth mentioning Carlo Scarpa, born in 1906, one of the most important Italian architects and designers of the 20th century. Scarpa inherited from his mentor Guido Cirilli an attention to detail and the quality of materials. Reflecting on his architectural lineage, Scarpa remarked on the challenges of moving beyond the eclectic taste of the 19th century to embrace more poetic and harmonious expressions in architecture. Scarpa’s philosophy underscores the rich cultural and artistic context in which Deodara operates—a region shaped by visionaries and artisans whose works embody philosophies, art, and values.

Sources: Storia di Bassano, 1980 - Published by the Bassano History Committee; Treccani Encyclopedia; Wikipedia.