Alabaster in Volterra
You can’t visit Volterra without exploring its craftsmanship scene, where alabaster is undoubtedly the protagonist. The Etruscans already learned how to handle the extraordinary glossiness and consistency of this material. This knowledge was then slowly passed down from generation to generation, making alabaster an integral part of this area.
The alabaster Leaning Tower
The renowned scale replica of the famous tower in Pisa is an indisputable proof of these skills. The sculpture, commissioned and now owned by the Opera della Primaziale Pisana, was created by artisans from the association “Arte in Bottega”, from Volterra. After about 3 years of work, a team of skilled artisans from Volterra realised a smaller replica of the Pisa tower completely faithful to the original.
Do you want to know more about Volterra alabaster?
Then, if you still want to know more of this ancient craft you can visit the Alabaster Eco-museum where you will discover the history of alabaster in Volterra and a lot of artifacts from different periods. A tour to an old workshop is also included in the visit.
Did you know that the alabaster of Volterra and the Oriental alabaster are not the same thing?
Yes , because “ alabaster ” is a word used in a generic way by the archeologists, while with this same word geologists indicate two different kinds of minerals: a type of calcite and a type of gypsum. The first one is typical of ancient Oriental and Middle-East cultures and nowadays is the mineral most used to make any kind of artifacts. Whereas gypsum, a mineral quite commonly used in Medieval Europe, today is extracted and used in Spain (Aragon), in Wales and in Italy (Volterra).
What are the artisans of Volterra?
Today as in the past, alabaster artisans in Volterra specialize. Some are strictly ornatisti, specializing in ornamental and decorative objects such as paperweights, dishes, and other small objects Others consider themselves animalisti, crafting elegant horses, birds, and other animals. Finally, scultori focus primarily on human subjects.
Where is alabaster from?
Since ancient times, the people of central Italy have mined alabaster from the hills of the Tuscan countryside. The ancient Etruscans prized alabaster for its durability over centuries, not to mention its beautiful coloration, natural veining, ...
What tools do you use to make an alabaster?
If the final result is a vessel like an amphorae or vase, the hunk of alabaster is then fixed on a lathe, and turned and shaped with various chiseling tools. In ancient times, alabastrai used a lathe operated with a foot pedal, but most have been replaced with electric equipment today. The vessel would then be further shaped with chisels and chiseling hooks made of steel or iron. Artisans use a variety of mallets, rasps, and chisels, as well as a special tool called a scuffina that was developed specifically for smoothing alabaster.
How long does it take to make an alabaster bust?
Alabaster is an exceptionally hard mineral that occasionally contains little perforations and holes within it. The work is slow; it can take a month or so to craft a bust, for example. Some artisans do it part-time, relying on a second job to support themselves while they work slowly but surely at this laborious craft.
Where is alabaster found today?
Today, the ancient Etruscan city of Volterra, southwest of Florence , remains a center for alabaster craftsmanship. Toward the eighteenth century, artisans in Volterra rediscovered the ancient art of working alabaster, and it enjoyed a renaissance throughout the early 1900s. A move to industrialize alabaster crafts took hold after World War II. Luckily, a handful of diligent artisans preserved the handmade techniques of this ancient tradition.
When was alabaster made?
For those artisans continuing the handmade ways of the past, the tools and methods used to fashion this hard mineral are nearly indistinguishable from those used by Etruscan alabaster artisans from the third century BCE. In fact, archeologists working in central Italy have unearthed workshops of ancient Etruscan alabastrai that closely mirror those of today. Amazing!
What is Paolo Sabatini's work?
Paolo Sabatini has a reputation for innovation. Instead of slavishly copying designs of the past, Sabatini provocatively pushes the envelope with unexpected designs in alabaster. In his workshop are apples, pens, candelabra, hats, shoes, and much more made of alabaster. Each one of his alabaster sculptures is a unique creation. He has challenged other alabaster artists, in Volterra and elsewhere, to think outside the box.
