In recalling the roots of his trade and his workshop, Pierandrea Carta smiles, a third generation filigree goldsmith who today carries on the family business in the heart of Cagliari. «The chaplet of Sant'Efisio that all of Sardinia knows bears our "signature". It is an honor to have left such an important mark on the history of the island. But it all began in 1920, in the Castello district ».
There, in via Università, the first laboratory of the Carta family saw the light. «It was my grandfather – says Pierandrea – who started all this. He had extraordinary abilities, so much so that my father, fascinated by that world, decided to continue. In 1963 Cagliari was changing face , so the laboratory moved to via Garibaldi, where it is today». The work has not changed over the years , «we have remained faithful to the original protocol, we do everything by hand: from casting to polishing». The decision to maintain these quality standards was risky, perhaps a gamble. «And in the end this decision, over time, has rewarded us».
And Pierandrea knows it well: «We have achieved a great result . We can say that our creations are "really liked" by Sant'Efisio because my grandfather, in 1956, created the halo that he parades every year . For all of us it was a great joy, having such an order is certainly something prestigious». But the "magic" did not end there. In fact, in 2011 the precious creation needed a little restoration. And it was Pierandrea's hands that retouched what his father had forged more than half a century earlier. «After so many years she returned to our laboratory, it was truly an inexplicable emotion».
And when asked “why choose this profession?”, Pierandrea has no doubts: « I started as a child , following in the footsteps of the family. I also enrolled at the University but then I realized that the goldsmith's art was my path». A path certainly not easy to discover a job that you learn in the field, with a lot of dedication, time and patience. And it can be perceived by observing the precise and meticulous movements of his hands at work, intent on preparing the thin threads of precious metal and the small spheres that make the filigree jewels characteristic and never "out of fashion".
«The new generations are rediscovering this kind of precious . We are confident. We are also lucky enough to witness a "new spring" of Sardinian traditions, with the rediscovery of traditional clothing and jewels by folk groups». And so the activity does not stop. «I learned even if my teachers weren't easy. After all, the quality standard to be respected is of the highest level. And today I teach this to my pupils: time must be used correctly. Because it is necessary to manage different thicknesses and working techniques from classic jewellery. The finishing touches, the welding and the steps required by this art are truly extraordinary».
After all, the filigree, born in the mists of time, among its peculiarities also (and above all) has the details: spheres, floral figures, traditional designs. And taking a look at the future of the laboratory , Pierandrea is confident. « We are at work for the new edition of Sant'Efisio , we will not miss the appointment again this year». But the face becomes gloomy when it comes to young people and "new recruits": «Passing down our knowledge is not easy. It takes time to learn and open your own reality, even at a bureaucratic level, it's really a feat. We ask for help from the institutions, to come to meet us. My dream is to open a school for a few students, the requests are there. It's not true that the new generations don't want to work, they need opportunities. Only in this way will this art be able to survive».