In Sardinia handicraft is still very popular compared to other regions, because thousand year old traditions have been preserved thanks to the distance of the island from the continent.
Modern handicraft tries to meet with contemporary fashion but the objects produced still present strong ties with tradition due to the roots embedded in folk art enriched by the benefits of education. They produce works of art of great formal beauty and high technical standards.
The art of weaving dates back to centuries ago. For instance the vertical loom was brought to Sardinia from the near east about 3000 years ago.
All products are really extraordinary: carpets, produced in many villages, wonderful blankets with low relief patterns, and precious tapestries.
Ceramics offers many everyday items which are sometimes reproductions of ancient objects with modern hints; Sardinia also offers fine pieces of furniture made with the most modern techniques by craftsmen trained in the best European schools.
Natural fibres are used for basketworks: asphodel leaves in Ollollai and Flussio, palmetto leaves and reeds in Castelsardo, straw in Sinnai.
Different shades of natural fibres are skilfully used by craftsmen, together with dyed fibres and many baskets are even enriched with precious fabrics.
Among the wooden products, a special charm is transmitted by the masks of the carnival of the Barbagia region. They reproduce human faces, but also animals’ heads and devils such as the “Mammuthones”, “Boes”, “Merdules” etc…, made in Mamoiada, Ottana and Orani by a few craftsmen.
There are still cork handicraft products in Calangianus, while precious gold and silver filigree is still made in Bosa, Dorgali and Oristano. Coral workshops are very popular in Alghero, Castelsardo and Bosa.
In different places you may find wrought iron products, but also wooden wedding chests with low relief engravings that traditionally were used to store the linen trousseau hand embroidered by the brides.