AMONG WOOD-SHAVINGS AND LOOMS

Quality Arts & Crafts in the mountains in Friuli

ANTONIO ANGELO BAUSSANO

INIZIATIVA CONFINANZIATA DALL’UE FONDO EUROPEO DI SVILUPPO REGIONALE

MINISTERO DELLE INFRASTRUTTURE E DEI TRASPORTI PROGRAMME OF EUROPEAN INITIATIVE INTERREG III B – ALPINE SPACE

CRAFTS PROJECT Cooperation among the Regions of the Alps to Forward Trans-sectorial and Trans-national synergies

Autonomous Region Central Directorate for agricultural, natural, forestry resources and for the mountain territories Unit for general, administrative affairs and for community policies

Study and analysis on traditional and typical alpine crafts, in order to recognise it as excellent quality crafts

AMONG WOOD-SHAVINGS AND LOOMS Quality Arts & Crafts in the mountains in Friuli

ABSTRACT Final research report

Acknowledgements Antonio Angelo BAUSSANO

Thanks

I wish to extend my special thanks, for their valuable contribution and for their real collaboration, to Marina Bortotto, Director of the Unit for general, administrative affairs and for community policies of the Central Directorate for agricultural, natural, forestry resources and for the moun- tain territories - AUTONOMOUS REGION FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA, to Luciana Zanier, Project Manager for the AUTONOMOUS REGION FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA of the Project CRAFTS, to Alessandra Straulino, Manager of the Community Projects of the Municipality of Sutrio (), to Leila Meroi, graduate in Psychology, to Raffaella Cargnelutti, President of the “Fondazione Museo Carnico delle Arti e Tradizoni Popolari” in (Udine), to Domenico Molfetta, researcher and scholar of local history, to the owners of the crafts companies, whom I had the pleasure to meet and interview:

- Diemme legno snc - (UD) - F.lli Rossiti - Tolmezzo (UD) - Il C.L.A.P. - (UD) - Il Fiore Dipinto - (UD) - Il Vento e il Sole - Tarvisio (UD) - L’Ebanista - (UD) - Mobili MEC - Sutrio (UD - Revelant Gino e Giusto - Paularo (UD) - SERMOBIL - Tolmezzo (UD) - Carnica Arte Tessile (UD) - TUFTING TAPPETI - (UD) - Tessitura artigiana di - Sauris (UD) - De Antoni - (UD)

Antonio Angelo BAUSSANO

August 2005

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Foreword

The traditional arts and crafts activities making up a key sector of the mountain economy of the different regions that form the alpine range still represent a real and proper wealth both in cultur- al and economic terms. This wealth, to be able to continue in the future, must take place through the creation of synergies with other strategic economic sectors of the mountain, and first of all with tourism. Within the Programme of European Initiative Interreg III B – Alpine Space, the Unit for gener- al, administrative affairs and for community policies of the Central Directorate for agricultural, natural, forestry resources and for the mountain territories, which boasts a wide experience in par- ticipation in European projects thanks to the elaboration and implementation of initiatives for the Alpine Space during the previous planning of the structural funds 1994/1999, has considered it important to present, as leading partner, the project CRAFTS (acronym for Cooperation among the Regions of the Alps to Forward trans-sector and trans-national synergies), which proposes interventions for the protection and valorisation of the Alpine crafts and for the protection and preservation of the cultural heritage of the “ master craftsmen” through the creation of synergies with tourism in order to create a new professional profile - the tour-crafts operator. According to the intervention methodology experimented by the Piedmont Region (Project part- ner), with the project (Piedmont Crafts Excellence), this research is part of the activities foreseen by the project CRAFTS as a survey carried out on an area of the regional mountain territory (Carnia area) which has as its objective the definition of methodologies and tools to identify and individu- alise the kinds of artistic, traditional, typical and innovative kinds of crafts, in the woodworking and textile sectors identified as highly important quality sectors of artisan activity at a local level, with the intention of attributing them a specific acknowledgement of quality and excellence. The research carries out a historical analysis of the traditional activities linked to the woodwork- ing and textile productions, which perfectly targets the evolution that these two sectors have had over the course of time. The research is also a rich and important collection of information and data, regarding both quantity and quality, on the current artisan activities linked to the sectors taken into considera- tion, providing also interesting indications and ideas that are useful to orienting and supporting further interventions to support the artisan activities to be started off in the near future. A hearty thanks to Mr. Baussano who very professionally and with great commitment performed the research which I hope will constitute an important document both for the definition of fur- ther projects involving trans-national cooperation and for the drawing up of regional regulations of the sector by which the typical artisan productions of the regional mountain territory may be qualified and certified.

Marina BORTOTTO Director of the Unit for general, administrative affairs and for community policies

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ABSTRACT - FINAL RESEARCH REPORT

The volume “Among wood-shavings and torical settlements in these places and that the Looms”, in dealing with the complex themes analysis set out in the book coherently and deci- that underlie the analysis of the different activ- sively defines, has to take place respectfully ities performed in the artisan sector, considers within a precise cultural setting and their that, every time there is an opportunity to view, research has to be carried out within the rooted by chance or purposely, one of the many intertwining of customs, habits, recognisable expressions of artistic, traditional, typical and ways of living, from a philological point of innovative crafts having a high quality standard view, as fundamental elements leading to a pre- and belonging to a certain geographical area of cise regional identity. our country, and our personal sensitivity has The results of this know-how reflect a continu- somehow been impressed, we feel a pleasant ous evolution in which the skills and the knowl- sensational fascination that peaks our curiosity, edge of the Homo faber have become a tradi- attracts and captures. tion, which has developed through innovation. If, then, these expressions belong to the land Part of this heritage has been deployed to and the places of our birth, they probably have design and implement new techniques and new the power to trigger much more intense and hand-made products, part of it has been saved, deeper emotions which draw their strength from rediscovered and valorised to bear witness to the more personal inner life experiences, sud- the wealth of values belonging to a culture: denly and unexpectedly awakened inside us unfortunately this split did not take place ran- from the perception of these stimuli, within domly, nor foresightedly and many of these val- which we find and recognise their intrinsic ues have gone completely lost. nature under form of affections, of shared val- In more recent times, in order to limit the retro- ues, of significant experiences and who knows spective analysis to an accessible time span, the what more. industrialization process immediately after the We rediscover, all of a sudden, the indelible second world war to current times in some marks of the original impact that these stimuli Italian regions, has definitely not been con- left in our memory: sometimes, the suggestion cerned with safeguarding and preserving this we feel is so strong and intense that it brings to necessary balance. our consciousness the vigour or the softness of The crafts sector has progressively and rapidly many a taste, other times the penetrating sensa- been impoverished following a systematic sack- tion of embracing or slightly perceived per- ing of the heritage of physical, informational fumes, and again the enchanted epiphany of and human resources carried out by the large particularly vivid and absorbing images, leaving industries to feed their own organisations: to us astonished. realise its vastness it is enough to think about the If we overcome the enrapturing dimension of massive migrations from the South and the East these experiences and we let ourselves go to a of the country towards these regions, or from the more peaceful pondering, we find the route valleys of the Alps to the industrial poles. along which these artistic expressions, often The activities that survived this process were present in the same form they had ages ago, forced to change and adapt to the new social having the shape of valuable highly artistic and economic conditions of these areas: despite hand-made objects or of simple typical prod- the efforts to survive, the crafts sector in the ucts from ancient local traditions, have consoli- Alps, mostly the manufacture of quality and dated over time. artistic products, with their traditional, typical They represent the result of a particularly rich often innovative characteristics has been forced and diversified artisan “know-how”, keeper of to undergo the same rapid and progressive eco- typical connotations, characteristic of specific nomic exclusion. regional areas, jealously handed down, where The proverbial qualities of determination and possible, through the generations. tenacity, lead the craftsmen to defend and reno- The identification of these autochthon and vate their activities, convinced that tradition and original features, which belong to the early his- innovation could and had to co-existing and – 7 – AMONG WOOD-SHAVINGS AND LOOMS

find mutual support. This contributed to a new Space intends to implement with the CRAFTS maturity and sensitivity both from the leaders of Project in specific mountain areas. the regional economy and from the governors. The cultural heritage of these areas has been In May 1997, the Piedmont Region issued Law compromised and risks definitely disappearing n. 21 that sets out the “ Norms for the develop- for a series of concomitant reasons linked to the ment and qualification of Crafts” with the depopulation and to the radical social modifi- intention of expressing a precise political will- cations, above all due to the rapid technological ingness towards this important sector of the progress over the last fifty years. local economy, by using effective operative tools The traditional activities that were the basis of in order to facilitate its regulation and to plan the mountain economy have been almost com- its future development. pletely abandoned and the gradual transforma- The lawmakers directed their very special atten- tion of the crafts sector has triggered off a pro- tion to the activities carried out in the typical gressive process of obsolescence of the usual quality crafts sector by dedicating an entire sec- working methods and techniques. tion of the law to the subject matter (section VI This cultural heritage is in great danger: the of Chapter II). artisan professionalism survives with very few These activities are taken into consideration Master craftsmen left, the generational turn with deep sensitivity and a marked interest in over encounters great difficulties in re-establish- achieving two important objectives in this spe- ing itself, the number of local crafts enterprises cific sector: on the territory is slumping. - safeguarding and protecting the century-old The CRAFTS Project intends to valorise the artistic, cultural, historical and technical her- quality Alpine crafts through the creation of itage of the crafts tradition in Piedmont synergies with tourism in order to favour new Region, which, despite the difficulties forms of integration of the local economic encountered during its evolution, has been resources and promote its development. preserved, handed down and valorised with The commitment of the Autonomous Region continuity, tenacity and skills by the artisans, Friuli Venezia Giulia is heading in the same through the generations to current times; direction. Through the Unit for general, admin- - promoting initiatives to rediscover, consoli- istrative affairs and for community policies of date and enliven the different aspects of this the Central Directorate for agricultural, natu- process, adapting it to the specific qualifica- ral, forestry resources and for the mountain ter- tion and innovation expected by the current ritories and following the intervention method economic, social and technological context. experimented by the Piedmont Region with the The law lays out the method and the tools to project “Piedmont Crafts Excellence”, the pursue these objectives, which principally need region intends to carry out, in an area of its to implement, through relevant initiatives, a mountain region, Carnia, a targeted survey in careful and precise re-organisation of the sector the wood-working and textile fields, identified so as to then proceed to an in-depth evaluation as crafts sectors of noteworthy local quality and a strict selection of those crafts activities importance. that privilege and enhance its specific quality. The book widely illustrates the aspects that The promotional, safeguarding and protection have characterised this initiative, both its cultur- actions identified by the law express, as outlined al, scientific and methodological connotations above, a precise political intention of the as well as its operative phases. Piedmont Region to support the sector, but also For the first, the book provides contributions to create the basis and the operative conditions for the definition of the concept of “Quality for its development. Crafts” and for the research of the expression of Some of the problematic issues so far taken into the alpine cultural and tradition, especially in consideration are those that shall be dealt with Carnia, through the wood and textile crafts. through targeted interventions, which the Operationally, the book examines the activities Interreg IIIB European Programme – Alpine carried out by a panel of artisan enterprises in – 8 – ABSTRACT - FINAL RESEARCH REPORT

these two sectors, the artistic, traditional, typi- markedly innovative and with connotations of cal and innovative qualities of the products development. manufactured, the market destination of their We have to foresee, even though we did not have products and services, the actions to undertake any such interlocutors, that the framework of for their support and development, their profes- the quality crafts sector, in its artistic, tradition- sional craftsmanship and the job market in al, typical and innovative aspects, has to be Friuli Venezia Giulia, the young people’s atti- completed by the companies, which in a short tude to the activities in these sectors and their term and owing to unfavourable dynamics, see professional training. their activity as compromised, threatened or We believe that each chapter in the book is partic- precluded, because subjected to a rapid process ularly rich in useful indications to collect infor- of obsolescence. mation, from different points of view, on the eval- Regarding the mountain traditions to safeguard uations expressed, by the artisan enterprises or rediscover, for instance, a company owner involved in the initiative, on the current state of interviewed during the survey involved us in his the sectors in which they operate, on the problems question as to whether in the near future the they suffer and on their future prospective. “gerle”, typical local baskets, or the cutlery We believe that the valuable suggestions that the made from maple wood that his grandfather company owners provide should be taken into used to make during the winter months, would due consideration so as to face and solve the most still have a market. delicate, complex and often difficult issues which He had evidently, with this question, touched we interpret as an invitation to the Region Friuli on a problematic issue common to the many Venezia Giulia to fully activate the regional disappearing crafts activities. norms on the subject (Regional Law n. 12/2002), It is these different realities that the political to discipline and support quality crafts. intention needs to face in order to fix the objec- The conclusions contained in the book propose tives of the actions to undertake for innovation, several suggestions to be pondered, which may preservation and recovery of the obsolescence. orient and support, also from an operational We believe that these three concepts may be point of view, the intervention plan to draw up interesting and useful as they enable a direct in the immediate future, so as to be able to see, and targeted action towards the problems in the plan itself, the real political intention to linked with the need to introduce minor or finally operate in this direction. greater changes in specific sectors (economic, The intention shall have to first of all be educational, social etc) of the crafts activities. expressed in the individualisation of the objec- It is worth remembering that every process of tives to be pursued in this specific sector and the change, in order to be such, has the characteris- tools to be used to coherently, timely and far- tic of continuity, despite the fact that its evolu- sightedly face the complex issues of the survey. tion may undergo greater or less acceleration or A first approach, on which to evaluate the slowing down over time. choices made, is the need to keep into due con- The systematic comparison between the objec- sideration and to conciliate, as has been well tives of innovation, maintaining and recovering assessed, the extremely diversified expressions obsolescence may allow a representation of its of the artisan culture (in managerial, organisa- lines of development, a critical evaluation of tional, technological and design terms), within results and, if necessary the possibility of mak- the sectors and the enterprises surveyed. ing in itinere corrections. In these latter, the production activities which On the other hand, according to the logic of intend to preserve a tradition that is particular- operating through projects, all this is possible as ly rich in values (artistic, historical, technical long as the objectives are rigorously and explic- and more), which has consolidated over time itly described, so as to enable planning and and is locally deeply rooted, co-exist with other arranging for interventions and observance of production activities that aim at research and the impact that these determine on the different experimentation in alternative activities, subjects involved in the change. – 9 – AMONG WOOD-SHAVINGS AND LOOMS

These considerations, that have so far had con- In both cases, the positions have been recently tents and form as their main subject, through conquered or maintained for entire generations which the political intentions of the Institution with great energy by the artisan companies, of the local government like the Autonomous which, in this stage of announced change, must Region Friuli Venezia Giulia may take place, be materially aided. may be easily extended, in coherence to what In the different sectors and compartments of has been stated so far and in the spirit of the quality crafts, the debate opened on its future, CRAFTS Project, to the different aspects of which sees the confrontation of operators, quality crafts which have been taken into con- scholars and experts in numerous disciplines, sideration during this survey. underlines more and more often that promoting As regards the quality of the manufactured means informing and training. products, considered under the artistic, tradi- Training the customers on the differences tional, typical and innovative profile, it must be between one type of working and another, stated that, alongside the activities carried out between the use of one material and another, prevailingly in the logic of maintaining (preser- between the skills and the expertise of a crafts- vation of the original technical and productive man and another: explaining that it is not possi- processes, of the stylistic features of the prod- ble to expect products of a certain value at lower ucts, of the raw materials used and so on), oth- conditions than those of mass produced goods. ers emerge which are oriented to a deep innova- Still today, a meaning of the term “crafts” tion in the way of conceiving the new products almost exclusively concerns produced goods, as and the new productive systems. long as they are hand-made and a second mean- An example of this is the production of laminar ing, which is attributed to the hand-made prod- wood carpentry, the manufacture of carpets uct, seems to refer to the fact that machines pro- and tapestry with the tufting method, the man- duce more perfect goods. ufacture of special frames, the production of A difference which is not accidental is that, in house linen with technologically advanced examining old crafts articles, there is a recogni- weaving systems, and the production of modern tion of such a careful and attentive manuality furniture for interior design. which is technically present, to such an extent In the restoration of wooden products, the that it produces the effect of a machine worked phenomenon interests more specifically the piece, whereas in the modern crafts its use tends intervention techniques and the materials used to produce the effect of a handmade article as for this purpose. requested by the market. The drawing up of the so-called “Production In the first case, the result of the real crafts pro- Rules”, instead of configurating them exclu- duction is a unique piece, whereas in the indus- sively as a strict set of norms, necessary of trial production the unique piece or prototype is course, which regulate the different sectors of flattened out by mass production. the crafts activities, will have to reserve ade- As regards the tools and machines employed, in quate space to include these innovations which one, hand making, extending a few specialised represent the natural evolution of a local tradi- functions, enhances the craftsman’s aptitudes tion which is luckily still active and rooted. and skills, in the other, the uncertainties and the These connotations also reflect in the market coarseness of machine-produced goods tend to positions respectively held: the first are set in enhance the lack of skill and capability. micro-niches (local) within which it is still pos- In both cases, with the same roughness, the pos- sible to avoid the more relevant competition itive and the negative effects of those “crafts pressures, whereas the second ones try to estab- signs” are achieved, which hand-working still lish themselves and/or to consolidate their pres- manages to evoke and impress on the piece. ence on the domestic market, without neglect- This is nothing but simulation, an attempt of ing the opportunities (unfortunately very few) imitating that industrial production extends to offered by the international market. the machine-made product, performing finish-

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ings that look hand-made and increase the cost information and educational potential in the of the article. initiatives set up to orient and professionally The operation is easy because the customer, train the new generation. who once used to go the craftsman’s workshop It is necessary to awaken in the young people and could make the opportune verifications, and in their families a new interest in the values now, before the finished object, is not able to of the crafts culture, which have been ignored distinguish the working cycle of a “unique” for too long with an unexplainable and guilty piece from the “mass produced” article. carelessness intrinsic in the educational system. Forgery is much more evident when some Professional upgrading is also part of the train- “manual” interventions are carried out, such as ing interventions for craftsmen, which, accord- corrective actions, so as to make an industrial ing to the logic of their training and continuous product look hand-made. re-qualification, should allow them to access This means that promotional actions to under- courses on technical specialisation, in line with take in order to support and develop the crafts the progress of innovation. articles must be distinguished according to their Investing in human resources expresses a politi- quality and innovative characteristics, recognis- cal willingness that is fully aware and fully able by the added value that the companies trusts the improvement and development of its could gain, by providing targeted services (com- potential, but to achieve these outcomes it is mercial promotion, marketing, technical assis- necessary to be able to set up a reliable training tance, documentation, etc). system, capable of identifying and meeting the From this point of view, alongside high-class need for knowledge. events, periodically proposed and continuously The thesis, according to which the development improved, it is necessary to organise and experi- of a territory must be the result of a process of ment targeted events which aim at exhibiting the integration of all the economic resources pres- quality crafts of Friuli Venezia Giulia on larger ent, is widely shared, but it presupposes the markets, so that it may be recognised and distin- indispensable fact that it is the competence and guished among other goods for its unrepeatable the intention of Homo oeconomicus that must and exclusive features. be able to identify, combine and use them if he Besides, the promotion of crafts in the sectors has been trained to do so, in respect of the ter- taken into consideration, will manifest all its ritory itself and of its inhabitants.

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Biographical note

Antonio Angelo BAUSSANO, psychologist, is Organisations: topics discussed, studied in- a self-employed professional who exercises his depth and collected in a vast bibliography. activity as a researcher, in the economic and He has been collaborating for a few years with social fields, dedicating special attention to the the Piedmont Region for the implementation themes of work organisation, employment and of the Project “Crafts Excellence”, and more contributing, among other things, to the foun- recently, the Project CRAFTS, inserted in the dation of the Observatory of the job market in Programme of European Initiative Interreg III the Piedmont Region. B – Alpine Space, which sees the Autonomous He is an advisor in the field of development Region Friuli Venezia Giulia as leader partner: and training of human resources, in problems within this project, he performs the task of arising from different models of entrepreneur- coordinating the partners scientifically and ship in artisan and industrial activities, and in methodologically, on the themes of quality design and implementation of specific inter- crafts and professional training of craftsmen. ventions, laid forth by public and private

– 13 – Printed in by Grafiche Manzanesi November 2005 AUTONOMOUS REGION FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA Central Directorate for agricultural, natural, forestry resources and for the mountain territories Unit for general, administrative affairs and for community policies

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