Laura Nocito

Coral sculptor

©Leonardo Tancredi

Carving a path forward for a rare craft

Laura works with fossil coral to create jewellery and restore historical pieces
Together with her father and brother she also runs the Museo del Corallo
Sciacca coral was fossilised tens of thousands of years ago and exists in a variety of shades

Laura Nocito is the proud custodian of Nocito Gioielli, a jewellery workshop with an all-female story. For more than 100 years, the women of the family have been handcrafting coral jewellery, in the delightful setting of the town of Sciacca, in Sicily. After a generational leap, Laura re-embraced her family craft, and took up what had been started in the late 19th century by her great-grandmother Concetta and continued by her grandmother Lina. Her training includes several different artistic disciplines including goldsmithing, painting and fine arts, which converge in her craft. In her atelier, Laura gives shape to creations made of coral and semi-precious stones, in which traditional craftsmanship is combined with an artistic and contemporary interpretation.

Interview

©Leonardo Tancredi

©Leonardo Tancredi

What is the link between the coral tradition and the town of Sciacca?: It all started in the second half of the 19th century when huge deposits of fossil coral with unique characteristics were found in the coastal waters of Sciacca. Sciacca coral, as it is called, is a fossil coral dating back tens of thousands of years, and is therefore environmentally-friendly. Its colours range from orange to soft pink and it is harder and more crystalline than other coral varieties.
Could you describe your journey as a coral sculptor?: I cannot explain why I made this career choice, but I like to think of it as a family vocation. At 18, I enrolled at goldsmithing school in Vicenza. After completing my studies, I worked as a modeller and designer for large jewellery companies until Sicily called me home. In Trapani I had the honour of working alongside the great master corallist Platimiro Fiorenza, who taught me this ancient and now little-practised craft. Before opening my studio in Sciacca, I graduated in fine arts in decoration and then in painting, as well as obtaining a diploma in gemmology.
What aspect of your craft do you particularly like?: I like interacting with customers, telling the story of Sciacca coral and talking about my creations, but I also love working alone. My favourite time of the working day is when I lock myself in my workshop to design and make a piece. The hours pass quickly because I am concentrated, totally involved in the creative act and immersed in imagination.
Is there an iconic piece in your production?: All my creations are dear to me, each one representing the evolution of a personal idea made concrete through passion and hard work. The more complex pieces of jewellery are more significant because they required more dedication, patience and sometimes represented real technical challenges. One of these is the coral poppy necklace I made for the inauguration of my atelier.

Laura Nocito is a master artisan: she began her career in 1998 and she started teaching in 2005