pottery, goldsmith’s art, weaving, leather | flick-knives, basketwork, woodcarving, copper
Pottery
goes back to prehistoric times; shapes reproduce seventeenth-century traditional “estrecho de terra”, used to prepare, keep and carry food.
Among everyday utensils, there are water jugs, pitchers, basins, pans, sa freguera (used to make sa fregula, typical fresh Sardinian pasta), su frascu and the “bride’s jug”.
Artistic pottery re-examines traditonal shapes from a modern point of view.
It is extaordinary to see a potter at work: a piece of clay, placed on top of a spinning wheel, is shaped by skilled hands.
Pottery from Assemini, not far from Cagliari, is very famous, as well as Dorgali (NU) and Oristano.
Goldsmith’s art
is very common in the Island, especially in Alghero (SS), Quartu S.Elena (CA) and Dorgali (NU).
Gold, silver and coral are the main materials used for Sardinian jewels.
Sardinian goldsmiths are famous for their filigree decorations; the metal is reduced to extremely thin threads, which are intertwined and bended in order to obtain refined and complex objects. Don’t miss the wedding rings, brooches, typical buttons and earrings, along with thin chains and pendants, sometimes used as amulets, and rosaries, to hang on top of the bed.
Weaving
is one of the most widespread crafts in the Island, and it produces carpets (once used to cover wooden chests), covers, curtains, shawls, towels, hand-made on horizontal and more ancient vertical wooden looms.
The raw materials are sheep wool, cotton and linen.
Many craftsmen still use vegetable materials to colour the fabrics.
The designs, which are geometric, vegetable, animal or composite, depend on the area where the tapestries are woven, as well as the colours.
There are different weaving techniques: “smooth”, “point” or “pebble” fabric, (“a grani”), where the filling comes out of the warp, forming small drops in relief.
Dorgali (NU), Samugheo and Mogoro (OR), and Nule (SS) are some of the towns which are famous for their tapestries.
Leather
is especially famous in Dorgali (NU) and Santulussurgiu (OR), where harnesses are produced.
Photo: Sa freguera, SP