Handicraft

Goldsmiths, pillow lace makers, engravers, stone cutters, potters, decorators, smiths and weavers keep alive the great craftmade tradition of Majella.

One of the most important craftmade activities is the metals manufacturing.

It deserves to be mentioned the great goldsmith schools of Guardiagrele and Sulmona. The Necklaces of Guardiagrele are precious ornament created through a skillfull manufacturing art (pins, rings, filigree pendants, typical earrings of Pescocostanzo and
"Presentosa").

We have also to remember extraodinary works in wrought iron such as the Baroque railing in the “Sacramento” Chapel inside the Collegiate Church of S. Maria del Colle in Pescocostanzo.
In the old shops of Guardiagrele and Pescocostanzo the iron is still forged according to an ancient tradition for the creation of swinging lamps, balustrades, gates, beds, wings, occasional tables and so on.
The Majella always provided with soft and white limestones for stone-cutters and sculptors. At first they were used for building town walls, modest refuges for shepherds and farmers and for the construction of columns and basements for Roman shrines and forums. Today this material is used for the creation of ornamental items. The most famous places for their stone-cutters are: Pescocostanzo, Lettomanoppello, Manoppello and Pennapiedimonte.
This form of handicraft is in great demand, especially for the furnitures. The worshops in which Majella Stone is manufactured mainly produce: fireplaces, portals, fountains, ash trays, capitals, occasional tables, pots, frames, bas-relief and small sculptures.
Equally worthy of mention is the art of ceramic. It is survived just in the city of Rapino where is a rich popular production with very bright enamels and colours. The few workshops in activity offers traditional themes like “fioraccio”, small roses, young cock and so on.
Another important tradition is the textiles manufacturing: woollen, flax and cotton fabric; from the weaving of blankets to laces and embroideries. Until few time ago in every house there was a loom and the women made their own trousseau. Today, in Taranta Peligna, it can be found the “Taranta”: a woollen cloth used since XVIth Century.

Another important sector of Abruzzi textile industry is represented by the “pillow lace”. This art was spread in many places, but today it just lives in Pescocostanzo, in which opened the School of Pillow Lace.
Finally, the wood manufacturing: intaglio, sculptures and engraves. These activities were practiced in the past just by shepherds for the creation of useful tools.

In some villages (Palombaro, Lettopalena, Pennapiedimonte, Serramonacesca, Campo di Giove, Pacentro) this kind of activity is solely used for souvenirs: decorative elements, small statues, containers, but also bas-relief and sticks.

In Ateleta and Montenerodomo are still built old country furnitures (cradles, kitchen cupboards, chairs, benches), but this art is dying.
In Pretoro stand still some “spindle makers” who creates not only traditional home tools such as mortars and rolling pins, but also chairs, pasta guitars, ladles, spoons, carving forks, frames and small statues.

Stores and Workshops

• Bottega d'Arte del ferro battuto (Wrought-Iron)
  by F. Scioli
  Via Occidentale, 23
  66016 Guardiagrele (Ch)
  tel. (+39) 0871.800.541
  10% Discount on every purchased item.
   
• Ceramiche Artistiche
  by Giovannina Tasca
  Homemade Production of traditional majolica.
  Vico della Chiesa, 5
  Lab. Viale 24 Maggio, 32
  66010 RAPINO (CH)
  Tel./Fax (+39) 0871 801186
  e-mail: giovanninatasca@tiscalinet.it
  10% Discount on every purchased item.
   
• Decorazioni Artistiche
  by A. Di Cocco
  Via Anello, 115
  66016 Guardiagrele (Ch)
  tel. (+39) 0871.835.34
  10% Discount on every purchased item.
   
• Fabio Di Lisio
  Handicraft Workshop
  Ecologic Furnitures
  Largo del Castello, 38
  67030 PACENTRO (AQ)
  tel. (+39) 0864.41592
  e-mail: fabiodilisio@caltanet.it
  15% Discount on a Minimum Charge of 250 €
  10% Discount on a Minimum Charge of 150 €
   
• Laboratorio Orafo
  by M. D'Ottavio
  Via Roma, 32
  66016 Guardiagrele (Ch)
  tel. (+39) 0871.800.616 - 338.895.0356
  10% Discount on every purchased item.
   
• La Bottega delle Belle Statuine
  by Sara Galterio
  Via S. M. maggiore, 41
  67030 Pacentro (Aq)
  tel. (+39) 0864.416.56
  10% Discount on every purchased item.
   
• Scultore Scalpellino
  by R. Di Ienno
  Via S. Lucia, 48
  66016 Guardiagrele (Ch)
  tel. (+39) 0871.851.88
  20% Discount on every purchased item.