Andrea Zanini turns a typical Italian goblet, known as a grolla.

What is a grolla?
In this article we will discover a typical, and a little mysterious, Italian turning: the grolla. It’s a peculiar goblet which originates in Val d’Aosta (Aosta Valley), a northern mountain region, bordering Switzerland. Its origins are very ancient and the name comes straight from the Graal. During the middle ages it was made out of silver and covered by complicated engravings. Very soon, cheaper wooden copies started to appear, which – among the population of the often isolated mountain villages – became a strong social adhesive.
During meetings, people used to drink hot wine from the same grolla in order to strengthen the sense of belonging to the clan. The very same ritual was used within a family and the most important and adorned grolla was passed along from father to son. Centuries passed, and the grolla lost its strong social importance, but remained as a symbol of the region. You can find it in many Italian houses as a souvenir – it is often used as a prize for sport competitions and it’s the protagonist of a peculiar version of the ‘game of the goose’.
Tools and materials
Tools
- Roughing gouge
- 10mm spindle gouge
- Parting tool
- Jacob chuck with 12mm drill bit
- Hollowing tool
- Calliper
Materials
- Blank – 300 x 130–150mm
- Blank for the finial
- Abrasives down to 240 grit
- Finishing oil
Grolla plan

Safety sanding
Sanding the inside of a vase, or a turning in general, that has a narrow opening can be a tricky and even dangerous task. Don’t stick your fingers inside the piece, but take a small wooden stick, place a piece of paper on the tip and wrap with a strip of abrasive, firmly held in your hand.

Narrow spots
When turning small details in narrow spots, a spindle gouge might not be the best choice. The wings can catch the wood and you might not have a gouge small enough. Using a skew chisel could come in handy solving many tight situations. When used positioned as a parting tool, it’s easy to handle and leaves clean surfaces.




















