A journey into Sardinian craftsmanship, where ceramics, knives, silver jewelry, and textiles—such as rugs, cushions, and tablecloths—reflect the rich tradition of the Island. We proudly present the products from the Artigianato Pasella workshops, active since 1988, along with a curated selection of artisanal creations, to offer you an authentic experience of Sardinian quality and tradition.

Thanks to its strategic location in the center of the Mediterranean, Sardinia has been a place of arrival and cultural exchange for millennia. The island has managed to maintain a balance between its local specificities and the influences of the many populations that have settled in the region. Tracing the origins of Sardinian craftsmanship means embarking on a long journey through time, spanning different eras and civilizations. However, it is easy to see how the forms and influences of other countries have intertwined in this creative journey, which has over time become an important cultural expression of a people who have managed to keep their creativity and inventiveness alive.

Sardinian Ceramics

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The ceramic forms handed down in Sardinia boast a history as ancient as the Sardinian nuraghi: the nuragic and pre-nuragic cultures have indeed left a varied and surprising legacy of ceramic artifacts, still visible in the major archaeological museums of the island. Among these ancient finds, we find many ancestors of modern everyday models, as well as recognizable shapes from the times of Magna Graecia and Roman conquest, such as the famous jugs from Oristano.

In medieval Sardinia, the terracotta tradition remained intact, although local artisans had the opportunity to encounter models from Arab craftsmen during the Romanesque period, brought by professionals sent to the island to build and decorate church facades.

The production centers in Oristano, Pabillonis, Decimomannu, Assemini, Villaputzu, Dorgali, and Siniscola have been active for centuries. Until the 19th century, Oristano was the main urban industry, famous for its congiolargius (potters), who worked clay using age-old techniques to reproduce Greek and Roman shapes.

It is worth noting that, between different centers, there was a more noticeable difference in the past in both the shapes and products made and the raw materials used. Clay soil, in fact, was found in various marshy territories, adjacent to ponds and waterways, and the processing varied according to its mineral characteristics. The current forms of jugs (for serving water or wine at the table), the classic scivedda (a large container, essential in Sardinian kitchens, used for various dough techniques and baking), vases, and large amphorae that were still used in Sardinian rural centers until the mid-20th century to fetch water from the source, derive from Sardinian ceramic tradition. Even today, the decorations are characterized by a simple taste, and the form of the artifacts retains a practical, sober, and harmonious style. For decoration, the island taste has undergone a slow evolution from ancient geometric and abstract figurations to the acquisition - in the subsequent centuries - of more “figurative” styles, with the creation of symbols related to Christianity and the agropastoral world, such as the classic Sardinian *pavoncella* (a symbol of rebirth due to its resemblance to the phoenix). Simultaneously, both the ancient techniques of surface engraving for decorative purposes and the glazing technique have been passed down, and in recent decades, the creation of refined “brush” decorations has also emerged.

Sardinian Jewellery

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The Sardinian Wedding Ring represents an ideal fusion of the ancient and contemporary worlds, where tradition merges with the artisanal work of man and the craftsmanship passed down joins with the technical skill of goldsmiths. The iconic Sardinian jewel is s'aneddu a granos, also known as the Sardinian Wedding Ring. Characterized by rows of small stars or canottigli (little shells), each piece reflects the belonging to a specific area, town, or region. The uniqueness of the ring lies in the size of the granulation of the beads, arranged in parallel rows, or in the orientation of the little leaves, similar to quotation marks, which define a delicate curvilinear design like lace. Originally with three or four rows, over time the tradition has evolved towards larger models, maintaining the symbolic richness and identity related to the different regions of Sardinia.

Sardinian Knives

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Sardinian knives, forged over the centuries as loyal companions in agricultural labor, represent the rich history of the Island. They are not just tools but symbols of the customs and traditions that have developed around them, reflecting the toughness and spartan nature of Sardinian rural society. These knives, ancient allies in the fields, have now acquired a broader significance. They represent not only precious gifts but also signs of esteem and respect. However, tradition requires that anyone who receives a knife as a gift must give a symbolic amount to the giver, thereby relieving the giver of the concern that the object might bring bad luck into the wrong hands.

The sharp blade, in addition to being a practical tool, also carries symbolic meaning, representing the bond between the giver and the receiver. The gesture of presenting the knife open, with the palm facing up, symbolizes trust and the assurance that the object will be used with good intentions.

In the 1950s, with the technological revolution transforming many sectors of the Sardinian economy, the role of the knife underwent a metamorphosis. From a versatile tool to a decorative element, the Sardinian knife has become a genuine jewel for collectors. Knives from various regions and territories of Sardinia, such as the resolza from Pattada in Sassari or the arresoja from Arbus-Guspini in Southern Sardinia, are a blend of strength, elegance, and robustness, each carrying a unique tradition.

Sardinian Masks

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The most well-known Sardinian masks - such as the Mamuthones from Mamoiada and the Boes from Ottana - are part of a broader tradition, that of the Sardinian Carnival. This phenomenon differs from the traditional Italian Carnival in terms of dates, masks, and celebrations. The festivities begin as early as January 16th or 17th, with the night of Saint Anthony the Abbot: in various towns across the island, the night is illuminated by enormous piles of wood placed in front of the church dedicated to the Saint, which are lit to celebrate the end of winter and to wish for a happy return of spring, rain, and a good harvest. Tradition sees women offering cubes of bread or pan’e saba (cooked wine must, dried fruit, and spices), while the young people donate large logs to the bonfire, and the men carry the statue of the Saint in procession, concluding the celebration by circling the fire three times.

It is on the night of Saint Anthony that the Sardinian Carnival officially begins: in Mamoiada (province of Nuoro), you can see the procession of Mamuthones and Issohadores, while Ottana (province of Nuoro) features the masks of Boes and Merdules, accompanied by Sa Filonzana. Despite attempts to Christianize the island - which persisted for a long time, with pockets of paganism firmly rooted until the 7th century - the most significant local cults, related to fertility and the abundance of water, remained in popular culture, albeit framed within what the Church allowed as Carnival, a period of symbolic renewal where chaos overturns the social order before Lent.