Born in Sienna, Italy in 1903, Alfeo Batelli studied with Valentino De Zorzi in Florence. He worked with Paoletti Vezio before establishing his own workshop in Florence. He emigrated to Chicago in 1947 working with Kagan & Gaines.  Two years later he moved to Los Angeles and spent the next thirteen years with Hans Weishaar where so many of the best west coast makers perfected their skills. He established his own shop in 1963. He became one of the most important and respected makers on the West Coast.