The Ramaio (The Coppersmith)

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The workshop

Montepulciano is known for its wine. The town in attractive, however, because it is still a real town with a store that sells appliances (to the local people) set between stores that sell leather jackets and expensive cashmere sweaters (to the tourists, obviously). The town is very attractive but it is not overwhelmed by visitors. Market day is Thursday morning and the market features fruits, vegetables, inexpensive clothes, and power tools such as tractors, weed whackers, and chain saws. This is an agricultural area and the people have very practical needs.

One craftsman who has a workshop in Montepulciano continues a business that was established by his grandfather and continued by his father to serve the local people. Cesare Mazzetti produces copper cookware and other objects as a ramaio or coppersmith. The cookware is lined with a thick layer of tin. The copper heats quickly and the layer of tin holds the heat and evens the heat efficiently. The layer of tin is soft so one must use wood or plastic spatulas and spoons with these pots and cleaning the pots involves overnight soaking rather than abrasives.

Pictures of the nipotino

Signore Mazzetti is assisted by his wife, Iolanda, who runs the shop nearby. They are warm and wonderful people and we stop by her shop and his workshop frequently. Today they serve the townspeople but they probably depend more on travelers for their business.

This year we brought out book a grandson pictures for the Mazzettis to admire. They both complimented on how our grandson, Noah, had grown and wished us many more grandchildren.

Artwork done for a
local winery

Signore Mazzetti is establishing a museum next to his workshop, a museum of his own work and of copper works that he has collected. It is a good thing for him to summarize his work and the work of his father and grandfather since his children have all pursued professions there is no one to continue his work and, further, since he is in his 70s. The museum includes art work in copper as well as tributes from others including the Pope who received a work by Signore Mazzetti in Rome. We wish him well as he summarizes his life’s work.

A brief video about Cesare Mazzetti can be seen at Cesare Mazzetti - Coppersmith on Vimeo.