Co-Op Society of Alabaster Artisans
The alabaster from Volterra, has been magically transformed for more than 2500 years and is the finest in the world. The town is situated on a hilly ridge among the Era and the Cecina Valleys. It is surrounded with a double curtain of walls, the etruscan wall and the medieval wall. Volterra is one of the most important towns in Tuscany because of the presence of monuments which show evidence of thirty centuries of civilizations; and because of the typical working of the alabaster. Volterra is one of the few remaining old-world towns where the artisans work among the narrow streets following the crafts and activities that took root in far-off times.
What is Alabaster? "Alabaster is not a stone, but a mineral--calcium sulphate hydrate," states Giovanni Nerei, who is the President of the Societa' Cooperativa Artieri Alabastro. The Co-Operative Society was founded in 1895 and now has sixty (60) master carvers who represent the history and the handicraft know-how working in Volterra, continuing their unique artistic tradition.
These Volterra artisans are divided by specializing in milling, squaring, ornaments, animals and sculpture. All of the carving is by hand, with lovely objects such as centerpieces, candlestick holders, ornamental bowls, clocks, picture frames, elaborate urns and the sculptured busts that seem to come alive!
"The only enemy of alabaster is water", says Mr. Nerei. Be sure that you never use it for foods or liquids, but wipe it occasionally with clear oil, and it will last another millennium.
The oval blocks of the various types of alabaster are cut, divided and carved according to the required article. It is very interesting to observe the different working techniques, the clouds of white dust emanating from the turner's tools, the chips of alabaster flying from the sculptor's hand, the step by step creation of an article in the skilled hands of the ornamentalist and then finally the finishing touches. The works are faced and polished with a special paste made from shell and crustacean dust mixed with an oily solution made up of natural spermaceti, vaseline oil, whitened wax and colophony which serves to enhance the translucent and veined qualities of the stone.
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