Francis Lestingi, proprietor of Signs of Gold (Williamsville, NY), passionately enjoys his second career. A Ph.D. who served as science teacher and physics professor for decades, he opened his shop full-time immediately upon retirement. Today, he’s graced Williamsville and environs throughout metropolitan Buffalo with handcarved, gilded signage that often features cast, molded architectural elements.
Lestingi’s enjoyment of signage transcends his shop’s output. Last year, he generously provided photos of signs and architectural graphics from throughout France. During a subsequent European getaway, he traversed Italy and Turkey to deliver these snapshots (with holdovers from his French expedition) of these nations’ urban landscapes. Dilettisi i vostri occhi su questi segni bei! (Feast your eyes on these beautiful signs!)