The skilled hands of the Sc-ciapín: masters in the art of splitting
Strength and precision… that split stone
In the fascinating world of slate, there is a craft that requires not only physical strength, but also unparalleled precision craftsmanship. We are talking about the sc-ciapín, masters in the art of “slapping”, an operation that transforms massive blocks of slate into thin and numerous slabs, ready for their final destination.
We start by cracking the natural plane
This subdivision technique, passed down through generations, requires incredible craftsmanship. Armed with a pickaxe and mallet, the sc-ciapín draws dividing lines on the right side of the slate block, using the corner of the wedge as a guide. With millimeter precision, he begins to strike the wedge with the mallet, creating a slight crack that marks the beginning of the separation.
Until the final split
If the block is of high quality and the stump not too large, separation occurs almost instantly. But if the objective is larger slabs, the sc-ciapín must perform a series of calibrated movements, sometimes even using a lever with the wedge. As the plates become thinner, the operation becomes more and more delicate, until the crucial moment of the “duplications”, the plates that require a final doubling.
Knowing how to read the mountains and the underground world
The mastery of the sc-ciapín was not limited only to the splitting technique. They were true experts in “reading” the mountain, identifying the best layers for underground extraction. They knew stratigraphy, tectonics, and petrography as they related to slate so deeply that even humble and curious geologists came to question them to learn.
Sources
Beniscelli G., “Ardesia: pietra di Liguria”, Genova, SIAG, 1972
Porcella M., “Gli uomini dell’ardesia”, in Centro di Documentazione della Civica Biblioteca di San Colombiano Certenoli (a c. di), “L’ardesia della Fontanabuona e le sculture di Pietro Burzi”, Chiavari, Grafica Piemme, 2017, collana “Quaderni del Lascito Cuneo”
Savioli L., “Tecniche di produzione e lavorazione”, in Mannoni T. (a c. di), “Ardesia. Materia, Cultura, Futuro”, Genova, Sagep Editrice, 1995
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