Arts and crafts Italy

Ravenna is known as the città del mosaico (city of the mosaic) and this know-how is still alive today in the city's schools and with contemporary artists. If the desire to try your hand at the art of mosaic titillates you, come and buy enough to launch yourself definitively into this magnificent form of artistic expression and be inspired by the few decorative objects that adorn the window. The shop also organizes introductory courses in the art of mosaic every Friday and Saturday.

Shop specialized in wrought iron work.

Not a store per se, but rather a showroom where Alessandra, ceramist and creator of leather design furniture, presents her creations. If you are tired of traditional ceramic designs, you will appreciate the contemporary shapes and colorful research of the artist who says she is deeply inspired by her city. Among the leather creations: stools, armchairs, blinds... Alessandra and her husband also own the B&B Tribù and vacation apartments furnished with some of her creations.

In Lecce, the craft of papier-mâché (cartapesta) is still alive and well, and the shop of the cartapestaio Claudio Riso continues this ancient tradition. Even the locals come here to buy typical papier-mâché figurines. Originally specializing in religious figures adorning churches, production has expanded to include crib santons, masks, jewellery and a wide range of popular figurines: peasants, bakers, characters from local legends..

Craft shop renowned for its many carved limestone objects, but especially for its famous cuccù (pronounced koukou!) in bright colors. These ceramic roosters are small whistles shaped by hand, one of the traditional crafts of Matera. In ancient times, they were symbols of prosperity and fertility. At Geppetto's as well as at all the craftsmen of the city, each one makes them today with his personal touch. The shapes and sizes are therefore extremely varied. A beautiful souvenir to bring back from his journey.

Alberto Cavalier now took over Gianni his father, in this workshop gilding that ties with the traditional techniques xvi^e century. An example? Gilding in the apartments of the pope in the Vatican, it is them. And if one day you find yourself in the suites of the famous Le Mirage hotel in Las Vegas, you will think of this small Venetian workshop, at the origin of the frames of the most luxurious rooms. The most curious rooms? Surely statuettes of Moors, for a lampshades or an original door closer.

A little alternative, Alida offers beautiful stone assemblages. Lovers of mystique will appreciate the place. Very beautiful card games are for sale. A shop… different. The interior of the room, with its stone walls, is very beautiful.

At the entrance to Vietri from Salerno, it is impossible to miss this imposing glass and ceramic building that celebrates local craftsmanship: Vietri ceramics. Designed in 1954 by the Italian architect Paolo Soleri, it houses a large shop where all the pieces are handmade. There is a large selection of ceramic objects in Mediterranean colours and patterns: tableware, vases, decorative objects...

A pearl among the handicraft stores of Venice, where the know-how and the workmanship (everything is made on the spot, in the workshop) have kept the quality and the refinement of the past without being corrupted by the laws of the market. Giobagnara will enchant you from the moment you enter the shop window: papier-mâché, wallpaper, elegant notepads, woven baskets, but also bracelets, leather accessories for luggage or the table, miniature theaters, etc. Here is the diversity of universes, materials and colors that you can expect when you enter this fabulous lair.

Welcome to the kingdom of quality craftsmanship. According to an ancestral know-how, the owner of the place works all kinds of objects from beautiful and old papers: small and large notebooks, pencil cases, pockets, small purses, notepads, old lithographs... and even earrings in the shape of books! The colours chosen (yellow, green, orange, red, purple, blue) enhance many objects, themselves sublimated by typical Venetian motifs (inspired by the architecture of palaces, arches, cross-warping).

An enchantment, this glass factory. We find it at the end of a long alley. The business is a family one, run by Raffaele, his brother Mauro and his sister Claudia, forty-somethings who have succeeded their father, who founded the company in 1989. The workshop is located on the first floor. You may have the chance to observe these craftsmen at work. They work the glass with a blowtorch, shape it, decorate it, then place it in the oven before letting it rest. Meanwhile, on the first floor, the store welcomes customers who have come to purchase their subtle and exquisite works.

For five generations, that's over a century, the Terra Sarda craftsmen have been creating unique objects from clay, diversifying production as time and fashion dictate. Not only is it beautiful and there's something for every taste (crockery, chandeliers, vases...), but the icing on the cake is that you can visit the workshop, see the craftsmen at work and chat with them. The objects are truly original, a far cry from classic, all-purpose pottery. Our favorite is the "Gallinella blu sealine" collection.

Fiorenza Elisabetta knows her island like nobody else. She has climbed all the mountains, pacouru all the plains and visited all the villages to bring back the best of Sardinian handicrafts. Coral from Alghero and filigrees from Nuoro, carpets from Mogoro and knotted stitch embroidery, ceramics from Dorgali or Siniscola, baskets from Oristano and trinkets from everywhere, no skill from Sardinia is missing. The address is excellent for gifts or simply to learn about the various crafts before embarking on a tour of the island.

This workshop produces contemporary ceramic objects inspired by traditional motifs. Graziella di Murtas and Andrea Spiga have mastered the graffito technique, which consists of engraving the biscuit with a hard point. The ceramics are fired twice to give them their lustre. The collections that come out of the imagination of the two women offer plates, vases, dishes with sober lines and decorations. A summer showroom is located in the square of Carloforte on the island of San Pietro (south of the west coast).

Founded in the 1980s, Studio Puck is an artisanal silk-screen printing workshop that produces hand-painted prints, many of which are inspired by images from old books. Quite an atmosphere! You'll discover (super) decorative objects for the home, from vases to furniture to light fixtures, all hand-decorated by the studio's talented craftsmen. In the face of mass production, what a pleasure to find craftsmanship "made in Florence"! The left bank of the Arno is definitely full of surprises!

Since 1910, this store has been working with local products and producing superb leather articles. From book covers to wallets, napkins, leather bags and travel notebooks, the store is full of treasures for those who love quality stationery and accessories. There are also wax pads that will give a certain charm to your next writings. The friendly and welcoming staff will give you very good advice on finding the right item for your needs. A very nice shop.

Together, the Nieddu brothers perpetuate the tradition of filigree goldsmithing with contemporary creations that draw on archaic know-how. The adventure began with Cristian who opened his workshop in Dorgali in 1995. He brought along his two brothers, Francesco and Salvatore, who brought their professional contribution to this family business. The creations mix gold or silver, coral fragments, pearls or semi-precious stones, defining new styles and enriching the repertoire of filigree.