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Sardegna

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Vivere la campagna

The Handicrafts

Medio Campidano - The Handicrafts
n.26/2009 -

 

AIl the hand-crafted items produced in this area are deeply rooted in the history and economy of the territory: knifes, daily use ceramics, woven fabrics, carved stone and wood objects. In many cases, traditional production processes, materials and patterns have been preserved. Today, the best known handicraft items of the Medio Campidano are its knives, used from very ancient times, an indispensable tool of the shepherd's and farmer's world. The presence of talented knife-makers and the excellent quality of their wares have made Sardinian knives in all their many forms famous worldwide. Today there are 12 professional workshops in operation and an infinite number of amateur knife-makers; Arbus has a museum with the largest knife in the world (4.65 m long for a weight of 285 kg), while Guspini organises an event known as "Arresojas" (from the Latin word rasoria, razors) of international profile. The handle is in ram's horn or wood the bIade is myrtle-Ieaf shaped, with blunt tip (at Guspini) or broad-Ieaf shaped (known as Arburesa). Many skilled artisans dedicate their time to making collectors' items, carving special designs on the horn handles or making damascene blades. Equally well known is the activity of the potters, with their main centre at Pabillonis, famous throughout Sardinia for their kitchen items and cooking pots. Their products range from pans to saucepans, from wine and oil jars to plates, trays, jugs of various shapes and sizes. Many centres can boast of potters who alternate the production of traditional ware with artistic items showing great creativity in the choice of shapes and colours. Recently, the potters of Villanovaforru Sardara and Villacidro have started producing pottery that faithfully replicates the materials and shapes of local archaeological findings. Another important handicraft tradition is weaving (carpets, curtains, tablecloths etc.) with workshops at Guspini and Sardara Villanovaforru is also famous for its embroidered shawls. Mogoro, which is amember of the Medio Campidano Local Tourist Network, is the most important centre for the production of carpets and tapestries; each year in the month of August one of the most important carpet and weaving trade fairs in Sardinia is held there. This town also has a number of craftsmen skilled in wood carving, producing chests, items of furniture and the famous Sardinian chairs known as scanni, with woven reed seats. Serrenti is well known for its stone cutters who used to produce flour millstones, and lintels and arches for dwellings – nowadays they employ their skills to produce works of art in trachyte and granite. The goldsmith's art is represented by the artists of Villacidro and Guspini who produce both traditional filigree designs and modern jewellery Traditional handcrafted products can be found throughout the province: items in stone and bronze, wood and cork and woven baskets.