Saverio Pastor e Pietro Meneghini

The craft of the remèr, the Venetian oar maker, has been essential to the life of Venice for centuries. The oars rest on forcole, oarlocks that turn a simple tool into a sculptural masterpiece with countless variations. Saverio Pastor is one of the keepers of this ancient tradition. In his workshop, Le Forcole, located on the peaceful Fondamenta Soranzo near the Guggenheim Museum, Saverio, along with his assistant Pietro Meneghini, crafts oars and oarlocks of striking complexity and beauty.

Entering their world feels like stepping into a forest of polished, twisted wooden forms. Along the walls, oars are neatly stacked on hooks, and wood planks await transformation. A set of ferri a due mani (two-handled tools) hang in a wooden container filled with oarlocks ready for refinement.

The process of creating an oarlock begins with a piece of walnut wood, cut into quarters and seasoned for two years. The wood is then shaped using a bandsaw and, when necessary, an axe. In creating an oarlock—whether for the front or rear of a gondola, or for traditional rowboats such as sandali—the scale and shape of the volumes are dictated by function. The initial cut is followed by detailed work with two-handled tools of varying widths to refine the form, adjust curves, and ensure the proper proportions for the rower.

The fórcola is then smoothed using a scraper and sandpaper before being finished with multiple coats of diluted straw oil to enhance its appearance and durability. Finally, it is adapted to fit the prepared hole, then signed and numbered.

In the workshop, some of their works are displayed, with a few pieces available for purchase as sculptures—a fine example of craftsmanship deeply tied to Venice and its human and natural ecosystem.