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Soapstone: the quality of Valtellina tradition
SINCE 1737 turning and craftsmanship
Valtellinese craftsmanship
The green Pirlo soapstone ("compact chlorite schist") is extracted from a single vein at the top of the "OVE" Alp at an altitude of 1,650 meters in the municipality of Chiesa in Valmalenco (SO). The processing of the stone blocks is carried out on the lathe with procedures that have remained unchanged over time; the tools are almost the same, operated by hand by the turner, so the result of the work depends exclusively on his skills. The turning is carried out entirely dry without the use of any chemical substance. Afterwards, some products, such as the "Levèc" bowls and grills, are hand-circled with copper straps and assembled with rivets. Our brand is applied to every single product, which specifies its origin. The brand is registered at the Sondrio Chamber of Commerce.
Cose da sapere sulla Pietra OLLARE
Soapstone is a variety of serpentine and is predominantly magnesium silicate; it is divided into two main groups: talcoschist and chloritoschist.
They are distinguished from each other by their crystalline, lamellar, granular structure, hardness and colour.
The greyish-white, which has talc as its main component, is the talcoschist which is found in abundance along the Italian Alps.
Chlorite schist, on the other hand, is much rarer and more valuable: the main component is chlorite which gives the typical green colour; it is also found in four areas of Piedmont, but the most important branch is in Valmalenco (Sondrio).
The green Pirlo soapstone, called compact chlorite schist, is the most beautiful and healthy variety and is extracted from a single vein that passes at the top of the 'UI' locality at an altitude of 1600 metres. in the municipality of Chiesa in Valmalenco.
There are 25 underground quarries ('Troni') exploited, of which 2 are still active and belong to the Gaggi family.
Due to its compactness, chlorite schist is the only stone that lends itself to being turned into the most varied shapes: from traditional ones for kitchen use such as (lavec, stu in, fùragn), and furnishing objects such as vases, wedding favors, plates, splinters , centerpieces, etc., artistically decorated with low-high relief graffito engravings, or transformed into all-round sculptures.
The processing no longer takes place with traditional water-powered lathes, but with electrically driven mechanical ones; however, the working procedure always remains the same as the old one.
The tools are almost the same, operated by hand by the turner, so the result of the work depends exclusively on his skill.
The turning is carried out entirely dry without the use of any harmful substances.
Thanks to its excellent thermal properties, Soapstone is one of the few natural stones suitable for cooking and preserving food.
The peculiarity of the production lies in the fact that each piece is unique because the production takes place manually without the use of programmable machinery.
They are distinguished from each other by their crystalline, lamellar, granular structure, hardness and colour.
The greyish-white, which has talc as its main component, is the talcoschist which is found in abundance along the Italian Alps.
Chlorite schist, on the other hand, is much rarer and more valuable: the main component is chlorite which gives the typical green colour; it is also found in four areas of Piedmont, but the most important branch is in Valmalenco (Sondrio).
The green Pirlo soapstone, called compact chlorite schist, is the most beautiful and healthy variety and is extracted from a single vein that passes at the top of the 'UI' locality at an altitude of 1600 metres. in the municipality of Chiesa in Valmalenco.
There are 25 underground quarries ('Troni') exploited, of which 2 are still active and belong to the Gaggi family.
Due to its compactness, chlorite schist is the only stone that lends itself to being turned into the most varied shapes: from traditional ones for kitchen use such as (lavec, stu in, fùragn), and furnishing objects such as vases, wedding favors, plates, splinters , centerpieces, etc., artistically decorated with low-high relief graffito engravings, or transformed into all-round sculptures.
The processing no longer takes place with traditional water-powered lathes, but with electrically driven mechanical ones; however, the working procedure always remains the same as the old one.
The tools are almost the same, operated by hand by the turner, so the result of the work depends exclusively on his skill.
The turning is carried out entirely dry without the use of any harmful substances.
Thanks to its excellent thermal properties, Soapstone is one of the few natural stones suitable for cooking and preserving food.
The peculiarity of the production lies in the fact that each piece is unique because the production takes place manually without the use of programmable machinery.
Customized soapstone processing: we offer the possibility of creating tailor-made products according to the customer's needs and tastes, thanks to our artisanal skill in soapstone processing.
Soapstone working is an ancient art that requires great skill and mastery. Thanks to our many years of experience, we are able to offer customized soapstone processing, creating unique, high-quality products. Our goal is to satisfy the needs and tastes of our customers.
Repair and restoration of soapstone objects: we also repair and restore old objects
Our company specializes in the repair and restoration of soapstone objects. Soapstone is a very ancient and precious material, used for the creation of various types of objects such as pots, pans, vases and other decorative objects. Thanks to our experience and our attention to detail, we are able to give it a second life.
Our Mine
In the year 1900 my grandfather Silvio Gaggi and his brother Giacomo built a house in the Malosi area but, as the area was exposed to the north and therefore without sun, especially in winter, it was abandoned after only 25 years, and in the U(v) area )i another was built, currently inhabited by the Gaggi quarrymen.
Here at the Malòsi they worked in the quarry next to the house for five years, then abandoned it because it was no longer profitable and in 1905 they opened a new quarry in the U(v)i area (Tróna rusa).
At Malòsi the Val Giumellini begins and there the vein emerges in various points, giving the quarrymen the possibility of extracting the ciapùn even outdoors; the "trenches" where the extraction was carried out are still visible. The underground quarries (from bottom to top) are as follows:
1. Tróna to the east of the house, 5 meters below the square;
2. now not easily identifiable.
3. Tróna to the west, at the level of the house which descended for a length of over 40 meters with a difference in height of 5 metres; Silvio and Giacomo Gaggi worked there.
4. Tróna five meters above the square, now not easily identifiable.
5. Tróna located under the rock, 25 meters long with a height difference of 10 metres. In the 1930s Cristiano Dell'Andrino and his brother Florindo worked there for a few years.
6. Tróna del puz (well), located at the Mut di Malosi, 8 meters long with a difference in height of 2 metres, at the bottom of which there is a well, now covered with debris. This is the highest quarry in the area; alongside and in the surrounding area "trenches" of ancient quarries are still visible, now covered by earth and vegetation. In this area in 1976/77 Silvio and Alberto Gaggi, with the help of a mechanical shovel, carried out research to be able to extract the soapstone in the open, but they did not bear fruit.
Nowadays the Gaggi family still extracts soapstone from the only active quarry in the entire Lombardy region!
Here at the Malòsi they worked in the quarry next to the house for five years, then abandoned it because it was no longer profitable and in 1905 they opened a new quarry in the U(v)i area (Tróna rusa).
At Malòsi the Val Giumellini begins and there the vein emerges in various points, giving the quarrymen the possibility of extracting the ciapùn even outdoors; the "trenches" where the extraction was carried out are still visible. The underground quarries (from bottom to top) are as follows:
1. Tróna to the east of the house, 5 meters below the square;
2. now not easily identifiable.
3. Tróna to the west, at the level of the house which descended for a length of over 40 meters with a difference in height of 5 metres; Silvio and Giacomo Gaggi worked there.
4. Tróna five meters above the square, now not easily identifiable.
5. Tróna located under the rock, 25 meters long with a height difference of 10 metres. In the 1930s Cristiano Dell'Andrino and his brother Florindo worked there for a few years.
6. Tróna del puz (well), located at the Mut di Malosi, 8 meters long with a difference in height of 2 metres, at the bottom of which there is a well, now covered with debris. This is the highest quarry in the area; alongside and in the surrounding area "trenches" of ancient quarries are still visible, now covered by earth and vegetation. In this area in 1976/77 Silvio and Alberto Gaggi, with the help of a mechanical shovel, carried out research to be able to extract the soapstone in the open, but they did not bear fruit.
Nowadays the Gaggi family still extracts soapstone from the only active quarry in the entire Lombardy region!
Why choose Soapstone
Thermicity is one of the characteristics of soapstone, its ability to absorb and distribute heat evenly during cooking, means that the foods inside cook slowly and uniformly, so that the flavors are enhanced. Thanks also to its composition, Soapstone is a very soft material and lends itself very well to turning. It can be used in many fields, starting from the kitchen, furniture, massage therapy, etc. etc.
Product certification
Every product we sell that has a copper finish is stamped with the brand. If used for culinary purposes, the mark certifying its suitability is issued. Any product that does not bear our brand is not of Italian origin.
Product quality
Every single pot or product is made with great care. To guarantee an eternal product you need to know the stone. All the works we carry out are turned manually without the use of computerized machinery, they are circled manually, checked and then put up for sale.
ORIGIN OF THE PRODUCT
A characteristic that distinguishes us is the origin of the stone. We still have the concession of the quarry from where we still extract the raw material without having to import it.The mine from where we extract the stone, unlike other quarries, is underground. Its depth is approximately 60 meters underground. Every year we extract around 29/30 quintals of stone which is enough for the entire working year.
Our works
Contattaci
Via Franco Sampietro 31,Chiesa In Valmalenco (SO)
+39 3207626942 Pietro
+39 3483639003 Alberto
gaggipietro@gmail.com
g.pietraollare@libero.it