Saverio Pastor

Rowlock maker

©Sergio Sutto

©Maurizio Rossi

©Tasliger

©Catherine Heduine

The Venetian oar maker

Saverio specialises in Venetian oarlocks and oars
His fòrcolas are sought-after also as design objects
He’s passionate and committed to the future of Venice

Venetian rowing is an asymmetrical rowing style with a single, hydrodynamic oar, developed because of the narrow Venetian canals: the rower needs a standing position to increase manoeuvrability. Boats like gondolas require a fòrcola, a peculiar oarlock, made by a special craftsman, the Venetian remèr, like internationally renowned Saverio Pastor. Born in 1958, he trained under the last masters of tradition Bepi Carli and Gino Fossetta. In his workshop near the Salute he creates both traditional and experimental pieces. Thanks to their sculptural shapes, his fòrcolas have also become artworks for interior design. Passionate and socially committed, Saverio participates in many cultural events. Among Saverio’s non-Venetian clients are American rowers and famous architects like Frank Gehry.

Interview

©Marco Gardin

©Catherine Heduine

When did you decide to pick up this craft?: During the high school: I was 16. I used to row with a friend: we often broke our oars, so I began attending a remèr’s workshop. That summer I spent nine hours a day, every day, watching skilled craftsmen working, such as Master Bepi Carli. I was fascinated.
Is it difficult to find young apprentices?: At present the problem is not finding young people: it’s the market, that has to be educated to pay for quality. My apprentice Pietro Meneghini is now an excellent remèr, working with me since 2004.
How do you introduce innovation in your craft?: Looking at the Renaissance paintings by Vittore Carpaccio, we can see that fòrcolas were quite different, flat and subtle. In the 18th century they were already curved. There has been a ceaseless evolution, especially in order to meet the rowers’ needs.
What are your specialties?: I am the oar maker for the Regatta of the Ancient Italian Maritime Republics. Oars are the most difficult things to make (if you get something wrong, rowing is hard), but my most recognisable works are the fòrcolas “da regata in avanti”, that is to say to move forward the barycentre of the boat.

Saverio Pastor is a master artisan: he began his career in 1975 and he started teaching in 1975