There are different ways to dig and preserve our heritage, some go beyond fields and museum displays. This is what jewellery designer Sara Cammarosano does in her homeland.
Proud ones are Cilentan people! Sara Cammarosano, after years of studies and apprenticeships away, is back home to save the past with her jewels.
In small towns like Vallo della Lucania, everyone knows everybody and vice-versa. Life is slow in the South, not as quite as centuries ago but still slow. Many leave in search of something, some come back. Like Sara Cammarosano, who came back home with a luggage full of skills and a mission: saving the goldsmith heritage of her land by shedding light, sharing knowledge and creating jewellery…
I let her tell us about how jewellery came into play from the start.
How and when was your shop born?
When I was 3 years old, I wrote a letter to Santa asking for a ‘Cicciobello’ (i.e. a popular baby doll) under the tree; however, I found a perfumer kit and a beads jewellery-making kit. At first, I was disappointed with the gifts received and I rejected them. Then I slowly began to play with them. After a few years, I started buying more beads, other tools and manuals. It all started as a game that turned into a passion. I started my first exhibition market when I was 11. I would have loved to attend an art high school or an art institute after middle school. All this wasn’t possible at that time, because there weren’t these types of high schools in my town. So, after classical studies, I decided to put my passion into practice and make it come true.
Could you tell us something about your background? Where are you from?
The dream started in Rome, where I enrolled at the ‘Accademia Italiana for a course program in jewellery design. Not too long after, however, I enrolled at the Tarì Design School (Tads) in Caserta, then passing through Florence, applying to a course in Archaeological Restoration of Metals at the Camnes Institute. Finally, I returned to Rome for a gem-setting course at the Accademia Barberini. These have been very hard years, away from home and my loved ones.
I reconciled my studies and my apprenticeship in 5 years. During the day I was following my courses, in the afternoon I was working as an apprentice assistant goldsmith. Later I worked for Marcello Pane, a historic Neapolitan company, and for a goldsmith based in Naples, Sara Lubrano.
Thanks to my studies, my courses, my teachers and the work experiences I had, I was able to range all over the goldsmith world from the fashion sector, show and business, then theatrical one, to then from jewellery made in Italy up to archaeological jewels, to finally arrive at new technologies such as laser and 3D ion prototype and microscope gem setting.
I then decided to return to my native land in Vallo della Lucania, in Cilento, to start my own business. In 2017, I launched my brand Sara Cammarosano Jewellery Designer. I live and work with and for Cilento to offer my goldsmith point of view on the tangible and intangible goldsmith heritage of Cilento, in particular by conducting research and self-financing studies for the Gold of Roccagloriosa (i.e. a collection of ancient gold jewellery from the archaeological site of Roccagloriosa).
I got the title of “technician for the promotion and enhancement of cultural heritage and activities”. Finally, I donated the brochures dedicated to the golden treasure of Roccagloriosa to the Antiquarium Antonella Fiammenghi with the patronage of the municipality and the National Park of Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni. So far, I’ve distributed more than 4K copies to make this heritage known, by also running guided tours (#tivisitogliori), goldsmith demonstrations and workshops on metallurgical and archaeometallurgical techniques for the promotion of the goldsmith’s art and the artefacts themselves.
How did you meet your passion for creations?
I have a contemplative nature. I really like to listen and observe. I love art, photography, food. Literature, art history and philosophers?
Although nature is and remains my main source of inspiration for my creations – in fact, I create lines inspired by nature and the land of Cilento – I draw a lot from the spirit of the places and the identity of a territory. In particular, I create ranges inspired by typical Cilento gastronomic products, such as figs, pomegranates, wine, olive trees, fusilli (i.e. homemade twisted pasta), but also inspired by both Greek and Latin myths or collections with an archaeological inspiration such as that inspired by the Ori di Roccagloriosa and the mosaic jewellery collection, ‘Musivae Mosaic Jewels’, real mosaic pieces to wear.
This jewellery line is the result of research on the territory and also on the human and artistic heritage of Cilento. One of the ongoing collaborations is with a local mosaic artist, indeed.
What’s your goal?
For sure, keep investing in my professional training. Opening my dream atelier and investing with my company in the area. Keep doing it in my small way to trigger cultural and artistic exchanges with those who live locally.
How do you imagine your typical customer?
My typical client is a bold person, with unbridled imagination and originality. One has to be whimsical to desire unique and tailored jewels. Every request is a challenge and I’m against homologation. Jewellery is a tool to play with yourself and your personality unless you have one…
What inspires you the most?
What inspires me most is experimenting with new art and forms of art. I believe that the goldsmith’s art is the sum of all arts. Cooking and sewing also help a lot in my production process. As well as travelling and visiting museums and art sites.
Do you have any inspiring place, such as a particular spot where you create or sketch your products?
The night, the silence, the sea, an olive tree. They are my sacred places of the soul where I usually sketch new lines, draw or pin new projects.
Do you have any projects for the near future?
I would like to be able to enhance my website and a well-structured online store. In the meantime, I’m dreaming of my atelier.
Thanks to Sara Cammarosano and her work, Cilento with its natural beauty and ancient gold is more of a reality and less an epic destination. This is a story deeply rooted in the land from which this young designer finds her inspirational fuel. It could be an olive leaf, a pomegranate or a small mosaic tile, the piece Sara creates holds a slice of history that is millennia old.
As you live in the present days of the metaverse, you can get social with Sara and find her creations online.
Valentina Chirico aka Valens
