pottery, goldsmith's art, weaving, leather | flick-knives, basketwork, woodcarving, copper

Flick-knives
symbolise bravery in Sardinia's rural society. The blade and the handle are both hand-made. The handle is carved from horn; moufflon horn is the most renowned, along with goat and mutton. The blade is forged by craftsmen.
The shape of the knives can indicate the area where they were produced.
Sa pattadesa is a knife from Pattada (NU), very common among sheperds in the inner part of the Island. It is thin and elegant, and its blade is shaped like a myrtle leaf. The handle is made of two separate pieces of horn, brazed together.
Sa guspinesa e s'arburesa are knives from Guspini (CA) and Arbus (CA). They are larger than sa pattadesa, the blade is wider and a single piece of horn is used.
Other renowned towns are Santulussurgiu (OR), Dorgali (NU) and Fonni (NU).

Basketwork
is very diffuse in Sardinia. Raw materials are reeds, hay, willow-trees, palmets and asphodels. There are many different shapes: baskets shaped as balls, upside down bells, elliptical, and corbule (to hold bread), that women are used to balance on top of their head.
The baskets are decorated alternating fibers of different colours, or adding coloured threads or strips to the weave.
Sinnai (CA), Ollolai (NU) and Castelsardo (SS) are famous for their baskets.

Woodcarving
is directed towards producing objects for everyday use.
Carved trunks are the most typical wooden handicrafts; decorated with geometric and naturalistic designs, they were meant to hold the bride's trousseau. Other wooden objects are cutting boards, spoons, stools and the typical carnival masks.
The best known towns for woodcarving are in the Gennargentu area, especially Tonara (NU) and Desulo (NU).

Iron and copper
Copper smiths from Isili (NU), probably of gipsy origin, blacksmiths from Santulussurgiu, and Sassari and Cagliari's wrought iron are well renowned.