Craftsmanship
Craftsmanship is one of the ways in which the relationship between man and nature can be regenerated. As a matter of fact, man is inspired by nature for the creation of its several handicraft products.
Craftsmanship is therefore an art which is strictly linked to the memory of the traditions, and for this reason is very flourishing in Aspromonte.
The wood is used to make agricultural objects or musical instruments. The pipes, made with the arboreal heather roots of Calabria, are the most well-known product. Besides the seasoning which takes about eight or ten years, the outlining, the modelling, and the polishing of the pipes are to be mentioned.
It is a hard work which requires ability and patience; it meets also with the approval of the foreign factories which buy in Aspromonte the bowls for the pipes, which will be exported all over the world under several trademarks.
The weaving activity is instead a task carried out by the women living in the Grecanic area. The "pezzare" of Samo, multicolored striped fabrics made of different clothes and the broom blankets, are particularly famous.
Gerace is the heart of the production of laces made through crochet work and lace pillow.
Seminara is the most important center for ceramics. It is well-known for the typical colored masks which have got an apotropaic value and for the anthropomorphic bottles, like the "moustached" ones, considered to be a sort of amulets.
The traditional handworking of the chestnut wicker and of the straw for the production of baskets and multipurpose containers, is less widespread.
