The working of slate, a black stone from the Tigullio area in the province of Genoa, dates back to the dawn of time. Today, it lends itself to works of extraordinary elegance for building components, furnishings and the creation of unique objects.
Slate is a black rock that turns
grey over time and is now mined in Val Fontanabuona, in the Tigullio, the vast
area bordering the city of Genoa to the east, whose most famous towns for
tourism and craftsmanship are Lavagna, Chiavari, Rapallo, Santa Margherita and
Portofino.
Its use dates back to the time of
the ancient Romans, and its main characteristic lies not only in its colour but
also in its workability, as expert craftsmen are able to break it down to
thicknesses of just a few millimetres using a simple tool called “scalpella” (a
kind of chisel). Slate was known throughout the world for the manufacture of
the old school "blackboards" and for the construction of billiards,
but above all, yesterday as today, in the roofing of houses which give
originality and identity to the Ligurian landscape when observed from above. A
breathtaking example of this can be seen when observing Genoa's historic centre
from the Spianata di Castelletto above, a must for anyone who has never been to
Genoa.
Nowadays slate, a warm black
stone, has become a component of great elegance for the furnishing and giftware
sector, lending itself to a varied and multiform range of ideas and solutions
and encouraging, with the use of new technologies, the creativity and skill of
a craftsmanship which has grown from ancient roots.
About the regional quality label
"Artigiani In Liguria" it is only awarded to the production companies
in the Fontanabuona Valley organised in the Artisan Slate Consortium.
Visit our website section dedicated to Slate Consortium.