Piero Dri

Piero Dri, the Nutty Fórcola Maker

There are beautiful objects, and there are useful objects. Some sophisticated dandy came up with the theory, intentionally provocative perhaps, that an object, in order to be considered truly beautiful must have no use whatsoever.

In reality, it is quite rare to find an object that combines great usefulness with aesthetic wonder. When such miracle happens, we suddenly realise we are in front of a functional splendour.

One such miraculous object is the Venetian fórcola, technically "a wooden rowlock to keep an oar in place" or, in more commonly understood terms, that beautiful piece of wood on which gondoliers rest their oars when steering their sumptuous boats.

The first thing that strikes you when seeing a fórcola is its exceptional beauty, its daring design that seems to be the fruit of a visionary artist. Each fórcola is different from the others. Every oxbow, each elbow, each shoulder and each recess has a specific function and is the fruit of a centuries-long evolution, a result of continuous, small improvements that have led to the present shape. Fórcole are – to stick to marine terms – like sharks, which have evolved over thousands of years to become the most extraordinary marine hunters on our planet.

Indeed, the gondola is nearly 11 meters long, a large boat compared to many sailboats and motorboats that crowd our marinas. Using a fórcola and an oar, which serves also as a rudder, a gondolier can steer his boat and expertly manoeuvre his way around obstacles along the narrow canals of the old Serenissima Republic city. Each section of the fórcola can be used by the gondolier to support his oar and keep his boat balanced at all times.

There are only 4 craftsmen in Venice, called remèri in Venetian dialect, who produce fórcole and oars for gondolas and all other boats, from rowing race boats to work boats that are based on Venetian-style rowing. One of them is Piero Dri, whose botega is located between Ramo dell'Oca and Calle del Cristo, in one of those viuzze (alleys) that – once away from the crowded "highways" thronged by herds of tourists – draw you into Venice's eternal magic.

The sign above the door reads "The Nutty Fórcola Maker", though in truth Piero is a wise, quiet and thoughtful young man; it's also true that in a world gone mad such as ours the wise are mistaken for the crazy. His definition of his 'madness' explains a lot: "I like to do what no one else does. I don't want to be one among many."

Piero, who has always been drawn to Venetian-style rowing and historical Venetian boats, thanks to his grandfather, has actually earned a degree in Astronomy. Studying at the University of Padua, he began to feel he was missing something, to feel nostalgia for Venice and, most of all, understood that he wanted to do something concrete for Venice, that part of everyday Venice that carries on the city's long and extraordinary history and tradition far from the madding tourist crowds.

And so, in 2006 he joined master remèr Paul Brandolisio's workshop to begin his 'learning', and in 2013 he opened his own botega where he still works with great enthusiasm. His botega has gained acclaim among residents of the Cannaregio neighbourhood who wish to keep on living in 'their' Venice.

Piero Dri, the nutty fórcola maker (Italy)