The ancient craft of the arcaro, the art of chests and kitchen chests (arche) making, in Abruzzo dates back to the 16th century, as documented by Serafino Razzi in his Viaggi Adriatici. This tradition has been handed down from generation to generation, and many families settled in San Pietro di Isola to continue this ancient craft. The art of arche-making entails great attention to the choice of material, such as beech wood, and to the assemblage of its parts without the use of nails, a technique assuring very robust structures. Until the 1980s, there were several arcaro workshops in San Pietro, and one of these still remains as a testament to the local craft tradition.
The work of the charcoal burner, typical of Isola del Gran Sasso, consisted of producing charcoal by building a cotta, a pile of wood covered with earth and burning slowly with no flame. This process, which lasted 4-5 days, required great experience and skill, as the charcoal burners monitored the combustion process only by using their senses – touch, smell, sight and hearing. While performing their task, charcoal burners were seen almost as mythological figures, as they possessed special knowledge of their craft. The hard work they engaged in would transform their appearance: their skin and hair blackened by smoke made them almost unrecognisable when they returned home.
The craft of basket weaving was essential for gathering and storing produce in centuries past. Practised mainly in the 19th and 20th centuries, this craft involved making baskets using natural materials such as wicker and reeds. Although these were humble materials, the basket weavers transformed them into true works of art thanks to their artistic craftmanship, which required great patience and manual skill. The baskets were given different shapes depending on their use – to collect eggs or transport grapes or hay – becoming a fundamental part of rural life.
