When did you decide to pick up this craft?
During the high school: I was 16. I used to row with a friend: we often broke our oars, so I began attending a remèr’s workshop. That summer I spent nine hours a day, every day, watching skilled craftsmen working, such as Master Bepi Carli. I was fascinated.
Is it difficult to find young apprentices?
At present the problem is not finding young people: it’s the market, that has to be educated to pay for quality. My apprentice Pietro Meneghini is now an excellent remèr, working with me since 2004.
©Catherine Heduine
How do you introduce innovation in your craft?
Looking at the Renaissance paintings by Vittore Carpaccio, we can see that fòrcolas were quite different, flat and subtle. In the 18th century they were already curved. There has been a ceaseless evolution, especially in order to meet the rowers’ needs.
What are your specialties?
I am the oar maker for the Regatta of the Ancient Italian Maritime Republics. Oars are the most difficult things to make (if you get something wrong, rowing is hard), but my most recognisable works are the fòrcolas “da regata in avanti”, that is to say to move forward the barycentre of the boat.