Traveling is the discovery of the production of furniture items, restoration, decoration, the “know-how to create” and the “know-how to produce” the artistic object, an itinerary of deep cultural and social value exploring the identity of the Sardinian territory.
Sardinian Handicrafts
Shops in Cagliari
Among the artisan shops of Cagliari, one space worth visiting is definitely the Intrecci atelier on Viale Regina Margherita, an exhibition space dedicated to the production of “Sardinian excellences” that showcases the best of the island’s artistic and traditional craftsmanship.
Atelier Patrizia Camba
The atelier of designer Patrizia Camba presents objects of the “Sardinian artisan tradition” designed and produced by various designers, textile creations, dresses, ceramics, furnishings, jewelry, and many other products. A rich collection of clothing and accessories, tailored for the right occasion, where natural fibers, shades and plays of colors, fabric painting techniques, and traces of ancient traditions combine in an inseparable union, giving each piece a unique soul. The assortment of scarves and shawls, entirely hand embroidered or painted like canvas paintings, orbace bags, hair ornaments, necklaces, and brooches—frivolities or trendy luxury, where glamour and experience meet in Sardinian made—are certainly the must of Intrecci. Then, home linens, all made of natural fibers, where linen triumphs, the oldest of textile fibers, a prized material for tablecloths and household linens. Jute is also widely used, a natural fiber easy to dye, of low commercial value, used for making coordinated furnishings.
In the atelier, there are also tarlatan linens, lightweight cotton gauze, and finally many creations in 100% native Sardinian wool. In all pieces of linen and fashion accessories, the dominant features of Sardinian cultural and creative tradition prevail: the most represented symbols belong to the Sardinian plant and animal kingdom—ears of grain, roses, butterflies, and peacocks, intertwined in a complex and colorful play of colors that enhance fabrics and typical artisanal workmanship. A mention and attention should also be given to the jewelry displayed in Atelier Intrecci, which often originate from recycled materials and where ceramics or vintage elements are inserted, making these accessories small works of art, testimony to a craftsmanship tied to very ancient times but in continuous evolution.
Sardinian Goldsmith Art
Thriving in the Sardinian tradition is also the art and production of goldsmithing, dating back to very ancient times. The creation with precious metals does not have a single stylistic unity; it varies from province to province and reflects influences coming from outside (especially of Tuscan and Catalan origin). Sardinian jewelry is a typical product in which one can identify an ethnic style, a sign of the deep culture of the entire Sardinian people. Closely linked to the regional traditional costume, it completes garments with its decorative elements. Jewelry in Sardinia has always had a very important value, passed down through generations as a sacred and precious object. In ancient times, jewelry served as a medium between humans and gods, to invoke grace or to exorcise evil forces; a black stone (obsidian) inside a silver ring (Sabeggia) was used to protect the newborn from the dangers of the evil eye. The jewelry and precious objects that accompanied Sardinians in life (especially women) also accompanied the deceased after death, as they had to ensure the protection of the body and rebirth to life. Finally, jewelry sealed the marriage promise, as a symbol of alliance and bond.
Bruno Busonera and Sons Francesco and Fabrizio Artistic Craftsmanship Workshop
Among the traditionally most important processing centers in Cagliari, a mandatory stop is the Bruno Busonera and Sons Francesco and Fabrizio Artistic Craftsmanship Workshop, where you can witness the meticulous and careful work of skilled hands capable of creating jewelry of all kinds with the skillful combination of wires and granules. In the display windows set up at the workshop, you can admire typical handcrafted and traditional goldsmith products, a sign of the deep culture of the Sardinian people, such as: buttons, cufflinks, necklaces and pendants, chains, clasps, brooches, rings, earrings, amulets, and sacred objects. These objects are all found in traditional folkloric costumes that can be admired every year during the biggest popular festival in Sardinia, held in Cagliari, in honor of Saint Efisio and other less important but no less characteristic popular and religious celebrations held throughout the island.
Bottega Soha
Also in the field of goldsmith art and jewelry, a recommended visit is Bottega Soha, whose artisans have artistically reinterpreted Sardinian jewelry in a modern key, highlighting the motifs of tradition and the creative soul of Sardinia. At Bottega Soha, handcrafted filigree in Sardinia (one of the oldest goldsmith arts in the world) blends with contemporary design. In the display window, a rich array of jewelry inspired by the flora and fauna of Sardinia and by the motifs and shapes of filigree from Sardinian costumes: clusters of flowers, dangling shapes, spacious and delicate structures that create an abstract floral collection, where the balance between material and empty space allows pieces with a voluminous appearance to maintain their lightness.
