Gioielleria Orafo Lapietra dal 1960

Giuseppe Lapietra was born in Verzino, a small village in the province of Crotone, an ancient city of Magna Graecia, to Father Gioielliere. As a teenager he began to approach this world, helping in the family jewelery shop. At the age of 14 he began his training course at the Goldsmith Artistic Institute, alternating school with work. Immediately afterwards he moved to Rome to attend the Roman goldsmith school, ready to learn all the secrets of an ancient art. After having learned the knowledge and manufacturing techniques, in 1992 he started his goldsmith's art laboratory in Pallagorio and also opened his first jewelery shop. The small village where the goldsmith decided to start his business. It has Arbëreshë origins and preserves its own language, customs and traditions. For this reason, his works differ from the others, because they are inspired by the beloved Arbëreshë jewels in full Greek-Albanian style, revisited in a modern key. In 2014, with the help of his 3 daughters, they decided to expand their business, opening a second store in Verzino.

From repairs to the first commissioned creations, this is how the first collections were born  precious by Giuseppe Lapietra who made himself known and appreciated for his artistic abilities. The recognition for his art begins and from there a new world is revealed. He creates various jewels for national and international exhibitions, participates in various regional and national events.

There is no shortage of satisfaction for the goldsmith Giuseppe, the pride of Pallagorio and the Arbëreshe community, who continues to achieve numerous work successes. The last is the display of his jewels in front of the President of Albania: Bayran Begaj and his wife, enraptured and enthusiastic about the beauty and creativity of the jewels designed by Lapietra.

The President of the Republic of Albania Bayran Begaj and his wife will carry with them throughout their lives a gift from our entire small but great community Arbëreshë.

Collier with pendant pendant, handmade by us in 925% silver with gilding bath, carnelian stone and central red garnet stone. (The head of the warrior Giorgio Castriota, known as Scanderbeg, is carved on the carnelian stone).

 

The laboratory

< p>For many years with love and dedication, the goldsmith has carried on the tradition, hosting jewels made of gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, entirely handmade in his laboratory. His dream is to continue making them but above all to pass on this ancient goldsmith's art. The laboratory and the materials are noteworthy, but above all the process that leads to creation is interesting. Peculiarities of his jewels are that they are woven in the manner of embroidery with tiny and irregular pearls fixed (not soldered or glued) only after having inserted the row of pearls.

The element that distinguishes the His creations are the result of work processes that give life to exclusive creations, a unique expression of Made in Italy. In fact, Giuseppe Lapietra's multifaceted creations are entirely conceived, designed and made by hand.

Given the fact that they are handcrafted jewels (and not in series), our jewels are often not perfect and they may show normal signs of surface wear, small imperfections and/or scratches, possibly present both on the gold parts and on the stones.

But this is precisely what makes each piece special and unique!

The creations

The typical Arbëreshë “la Zogha†costumes were made even more precious by some ornaments in gold that were worn by women to celebrate important occasions and anniversaries. These jewels handed down from mother to daughter and from generation to generation are still made today in a modern way.

•The jewel in the crown, as well as the best-selling piece, is the ring KORNIOLA'.

Small jewel, very ancient ring, handed down from generation to generation. It is made of gold with carnelian stone, engraved in the central part of the stem, available in different types and colours. From ancient times to the present day, it is a symbolic, important gift to which different stories and meanings are attributed (superstitious, good luck, good luck charm).

•Much loved and worn by women is theJANNACCA.

Typical jewel of the Arbëreshë style, hence the name ""Jannacca"" probably derives from the Arabic ""hannaca"" which means necklace. Processing of grains of hollow gold spheres twisted by hand in filigree, traditional symbol of prosperity, health, luck and abundance. Jewel that was usually given at the time of engagement between a young local couple. The workmanship of the spheres recalls in particular the embroidery on the typical Arbhëreshë dress (La Zogha). 

•The PANARACE dangling gold earrings are also a treasure. >.

Along the lines of the ""Jannacca"", the same style is generally applied to the pendant earrings called ""panarace"" which represent the leaves of cool. The gold foil earrings are decorated with irregular pearls ranging from 1-2 mm to 3 mm, with oscillating drop-shaped elements, acorn-shaped, bunches of grapes or long fringes. Some of them have a shape similar to a little man, the pendant of which is made up of a double mobile element while in the terminal part there is a mobile bead. The jewels are made with very elaborate workmanship.

The sacred art of goldsmithing is also renowned, including for example gold crosses, embellished with scaramazze pearls, woven like embroidery and precious stones. The Greek-Albanian style crowns made with extreme dedication, care and professionalism are famous.