Video by Sarah Gizzi
Restoring Gateways to the Past
By Maggy Wilson
Along Cagli’s cobblestone streets huge wooden double doors give entry to each palazzo, some dating back to the late 1200s. Some stand nearly 16 feet tall and wide enough for horse-drawn carriages; others are somewhat smaller; but all combine thick layers of wood, massive iron hinges, and steel straps to withstand the assault of armed robbers. Recent restoration and refinishing highlight the rich colors and unique patterns of the master carpenters who built them several centuries ago. Decades of weathering have diminished the visual appeal of others.
Giuseppe Piergiovanni in his workshop located in Cagli, Italy. Giuseppe has been a carpenter in this shop for over 60 years.
Photos by Charlotte Seiggreen.
Giuseppe Piergiovanni is the only man in Cagli who has devoted his life to restoring these doors and preserving their rich history. Because no younger man has taken up this craft, the history of these doors could wither away as he grows too old to continue his life’s work. Thus, many of the stories of Cagli could disappear forever.
Some doors have huge gashes and stains that add new character to them. Unfortunately, weather and time have destroyed some of these doors completely, leaving owners with the decision to replace them with more modern, functional doors or seek out someone to restore the original door and preserve the history held within.
Piergiovanni, born in 1934, was a young boy during World War II. During and after the war, money was extremely scarce, so although he prized education, at thirteen he began an apprenticeship as a carpenter in Cagli. He put in long hours learning the craft and techniques of a good carpenter, but received almost no pay for his efforts. The only compensation he received was a meager 500 lira during Christmas time. As he grew older and finished his apprenticeship, restoration became his passion and life’s work.
At 75, he has been perfecting his skills as a carpenter for nearly 63 years. His humble shop off Via Lapis is filled with weathered furniture parts, scrap wood, and ruined doors. A variety of tools line the walls of this darkly lit place, but somehow the old family portrait that hangs on one of them attracts attention. Amid the dust, one can see a young and ambitious Piergiovanni at the very beginning of his career as carpenter. This photograph shines some light on the Cagliese’s strong connection to their family upbringing and past. Therefore, it is no surprise that he feels such an obligation to preserve these windows to the past.
Piergiovanni explains that over the years he has developed a unique balance between creative and problem-solving skills in order preserve the functionality and beauty of Cagli’s old doors. He says that it would have been nearly impossible to learn his skills in a classroom because such a large portion of his knowledge is based on personal experience. Being a carpenter depends not on facts and calculations, he believes, but instead on a keen creative eye and an understanding of the history that shaped the doors.
This door dating to the 16th century opens to the recently restored Palazzo Bernardi Mochi-Zamperoli, now a cultural center.
For Piergiovanni, the restored doors must do more than just open and close. They must continue to represent the style and time in which they were originally created. First, he will take the door off its hinges and bring it into his shop for evaluation. There he can assess the damage, investigate how it was originally crafted, and make a creative decision as to how to repair it. He spends much of his day examining old furnishings and doors to develop a better understanding of the way they were created.
Sometimes, if a door is in extremely poor shape, he must conduct research to determine the style and techniques that were originally used to create it. By doing so he has been able to learn more about the different periods throughout Italy and the decorative trends that characterize them.
When he is ready to begin the actual restoration process, he cannot just use new, high quality wood purchased from a store. Instead he must begin to search for similar, old weathered wood. Often, he must visit construction sites, where old buildings are being destroyed and the old wood is being discarded. Other times he must talk to people and wander through the town to find wood that matches. Fortunately, Italians have relied on the beautiful and sturdy Italian walnut to construct many of their doors, so Piergiovanni doesn’t have to sort through a huge variety of woods. Italian walnut has a rich, warm color that contributes to the unique beauty of the doors of Cagli. This wood is also extremely strong, allowing these doors to last for generations.
To Piergiovanni, the job is not just a means to make a living, but it also represents his devotion to storytelling. He loves being a part of this process and finds great fulfillment in keeping the history of Cagli alive. However, when asked about maintaining the storytelling process, a somber look falls across his face. He explains that he is 75 years old and may not physically be able to work much longer. Though his passion is still burning strong, his body may not be able to continue.
Piergiovanni is the only carpenter in the area who still restores doors. He has no family members willing to take over the business, and it is extraordinarily difficult to spark young peoples’ interest in carpentry and restoration when progressive and fast paced professions are beckoning. Thus, he fears the stories he has sought to preserve for so long may now disappear with the doors that can no longer be maintained. When young people enter his shop, his wrinkled face lights up with a sense of pride, eager to show them the weathered wood, bolts, and hinges he has used to craft these incredible doors. Even the raw materials hold special value for him because they were carefully selected to perpetuate the history of a specific door. Piergiovanni has spent 63 years kindling a passion for restoration. Now he hopes that this passion can transcend into the hearts of able bodies to preserve a legacy of storytelling.
People who pass the magnificent doors of Cagli have the opportunity to peer into the rich history of the their old town. These doors are weathered with century old stories and conflicts and have watched generations wander by as silent observers of everyday life, perils, and achievements. However, few may ever think of the man in his quaint carpentry shop, responsible for preserving the history of Cagli.
Web production by Matt Dixon
