Craft histories – Bassano del Grappa

The collection of craft histories is the result of a collaboration between HEPHAESTUS and its partners: The Commune di Bassano del Grappa, Università Ca’ Foscari, and Copenhagen Business School, with contributions from students in the master’s program in Business Administration and Philosophy.

During a two-day study trip to Bassano del Grappa, the students investigated a local craft maker and their business practices. Through imagination, speculation, and exploration, they documented the craft-making process through photographs and videos. Their work narrates the story of the craft, its historical relevance, the artifacts, and the materials, while highlighting the traditional techniques, sustainable practices, and its connection to the northern Italian environment.

Alberto Scodro

Designs and produces sculptures from local resources and materials

This skillful creation of handmade objects blends functionality with artistic expression. It carries personal or cultural significance, reflecting heritage and values. Spanning disciplines like pottery, woodworking, weaving, and metalwork, craft bridges tradition and innovation by preserving historical techniques while incorporating modern, sustainable practices. Using natural or recycled materials, it connects the past with the present, ensuring relevance in today’s world through unique, handcrafted designs.

“The experience reinforced how craft is not just about creating objects but about preserving traditions, fostering innovation, and communicating values through the process. And then its just beautiful to see how natural materials can turn into meaningful, aesthetically powerful works.”

Alberto Scodro, a sculptor from Nove, Italy, draws inspiration from the rich ceramic traditions of his hometown and the natural materials surrounding it, like stones from the Brenta River. What makes his work unique is its connection to local heritage, sustainability, and the unpredictability of the creative process, each piece is a blend of intention and chance. Alberto finds the greatest joy in the storytelling behind his craft, as each artwork carries a piece of his history, his environment, and his passion for preserving tradition while reimagining it for a modern audience.

“Just meeting Alberto in his workshop and understanding where he came from, his town, and how he created his works was so inspiring and exciting. Alberto is not only incredibly skilled at his craft but also a genuinely good person. We feel truly fortunate and grateful that it was Alberto we had the privilege of working with.”

Elena Rausse

All types of ceramic products ranging from abstract art to practical décor

Elena and Bruno create both practical and abstract ceramic art, from coffee tables to wall murals, blending innovation with cultural heritage. They describe working with clay as meditative, allowing for strong individual expression in forming and glazing. Their designs draw inspiration from the Nove tradition and contemporary art, often incorporating different materials for experimentation. Crafting ceramics demands significant physical and mental effort, posing challenges for aspiring artists due to its steep learning curve and the expertise required for consistent quality.

“During our visit and interviews with artists and craft-makers, we learned a lot about the difficulties associated with being a small entrepreneur working with an art form that sadly is falling out of favour.”

Elena, a third-generation ceramicist in Nove, is the creative force behind the OBP, while Bruno contributes his technical expertise, creating a synergistic partnership. They engage in individual and collaborative projects, covering sourcing, research, prototyping, and production. For Elena and Bruno, the lines between art and craft blur: art involves creating unique, non-reproducible pieces, while craft focuses on producing limited series items that maintain high quality and artistic value integrity.

“Elena and Bruno’s ceramic craft-making balances artistic integrity with commercial viability, rooted in Nove’s cultural heritage. Their main challenge is maintaining creative vision while ensuring financial sustainability in a competitive market. They avoid mass production to foster relationships with clients who value their work’s artistry and cultural significance. Their revenue model aligns with niche markets that appreciate high-quality ceramics but limits expansion and complicates balancing craft production with teaching commitments.”

Cuko Ceramics

Handcraft ceramic sex toys

Cuko Ceramics specialises in crafting high-quality ceramic sex toys, with artistic designs that challenge taboos and expand perceptions of sexuality. Their work blends the ceramic traditions of Nove with innovative ideas, offering a sustainable and allergy-friendly alternative to silicone. In addition to sex toys, they create ceramic wax candles and artistic plates and mugs. Their products emphasize the concept of “slow sex,” encouraging mindful exploration, and can also serve as decorative art. The durability of ceramic allows for unique temperature play, enhancing pleasure while debunking misconceptions about porosity.

Cuco Ceramics was created by Serena and Giulia from Nove. Serena handles the marketing of the products, while Giulia is responsible for the ceramic production. They came up with the idea for their product during the COVID pandemic, where the product was initially intended for their friends. Over time, they saw the opportunity to turn it into a business by drawing on the ceramic tradition of their hometown and blending it with their innovative and progressive ideas.

“The ceramic sex toys really enlightened us about new nuances about sexuality. Gaining knowledge of the skills, tradition and mentality that goes into craft has been very enlightening and is a new inspiration to think differently about businesses in society!”

Le Nove Hotel

Hospitality service - ceramic-focused exhibitions and workshops

The owner, deeply connected to Nove’s ceramic heritage through his artisan parents, is committed to preserving and passing it on to future generations. He envisions transforming his hotel into a cultural hub, bringing together local artisans and guests to celebrate and sustain the region’s rich craftsmanship.

Emanuele Bucco – Lineasette

Home decor pieces made by porcelain stoneware

Lineasette produces high-quality home decor pieces made from porcelain stoneware. Through its focus on quality, minimalism, and timeless design, Lineasette strives to preserve its heritage while adapting to the evolving modern design.

“In our research on Lineasette, we initially hypothesized that combining traditional craftsmanship with modern technology would fundamentally change the craft. However, after interviewing Emanuele Bucco and examining Lineasette’s operations, we discovered that technology is used to enhance, not replace, traditional methods. Lineasette’s commitment to quality over quantity, underscores their dedication to preserving their heritage while nurturing a strong core.”

This craft utilizes porcelain stoneware—a blend of clay, water, and heat—to create unique, handcrafted home décor pieces. Each item is a testament to skilled craftsmanship, requiring countless hours of labor. Rooted in the Nove region’s pottery tradition, the craft balances heritage with adaptability to meet the needs of a global audience.

“Working with craft makers highlights the importance of being flexible while preserving the essence of the craft. It involves navigating the tension between tradition and innovation, enabling us to envision a future for the craft. Crafting, therefore, becomes a delicate balancing act. By mastering this balance, it becomes possible to achieve a unique alignment between the needs and desires of customer segments and the core value of the craft.”

Pesce Rosso Ceramiche

Craft ceramics, with a focus on natural craft-making

This craft ceramics studio focuses on natural, sustainable craftsmanship, upcycling waste into unique products with personalized designs. Their collection includes vases, cups, Grappa glasses, plates, dinner sets, and accessories. Emphasizing circularity, they integrate eco-friendly practices like sun-drying pieces and using a multi-functional kiln that both fires ceramics and heats the shop. Each item embraces natural variations, enhancing its uniqueness and adding a personal touch that connects the buyer to the craft’s story.

“We learned and realized alternative aspects of business consulting. Business’ can contain far more than models portray and objectives and expectations toward consulting projects can most definitely exceed the notion of profit-maximization.”