Laura Nocito, awarded the title of Master of Art and Craft in Venice

On the afternoon of Sunday 29 September 2024, at the Giorgio Cini Foundation’s Squero in Venice, on the occasion of the Homo Faber: The Journey of Life event on the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore, our artist Laura Di Giovanna Nocito, artistic director of the Nocito Gioielli company, was awarded the title of Master of Art and Craft.
The award ceremony, organised by the Cologni Foundation for Artistic Crafts Professions, with the collaboration of the State Mint, the patronage of the Ministry of Culture, and the support of Cartier every two years, recognises the best Italian craftspeople who have distinguished themselves in artistic crafts. This year’s award ceremony received the prestigious recognition of Head of State Sergio Mattarella, who honoured the initiative by awarding the Medal of the President of the Republic.
The artist Laura Nocito wastherefore rated among the best Italian experts in the art of jewellery making. Master Laura Di Giovanna Nocito’s name has been entered in the Golden Book of Italian Craft Excellence, along with the very few other Italian Masters awarded this prize, who are defined as “Living Treasures” by the Foundation. The reasons for granting the award included: “Nocito Gioielli is a historic jewellery shop in the centre of the picturesque village of Sciacca (Agrigento). A goldsmith’s company with a long history, founded in 1905 by Concetta Nocito, and now in its fourth generation: today the hand that creates the splendid jewellery is that of Laura Di Giovanna, heir to the founder […] Laura Di Giovanna creates enchanting and sophisticated jewellery in keeping with the ancient Sicilian goldsmith tradition, mainly using Sciacca coral, gold and precious gems. The workshop also specialises in the restoration of antique jewellery: the most important include the crown and vestments of the Madonna del Soccorso of Sciacca. In 2023, the Nocito Workshop and its Museum were included in the Agrigento Capital of Culture 2025 Application Dossier […] The company safeguards extraordinary testimonies and knowledge collected in the Nocito Coral Museum, where a guided tour tells the extraordinary epic tale of the discovery and harvesting of Sciacca coral, the ancient processing techniques and the traditional jewellery that is preserved and handed down to new generations.”
With her company, Nocito, Laura therefore joins a very select group of Italian exponents of excellence in jewellery, which includes names such as Aucella, Liverino and Platimiro Fiorenza, the latter being the heir to the great coral engravers of the glorious and ancient Trapanese school and Laura’s Master.
The prestigious award honours a path of study and research that has used attention to our history and traditions as a guiding star, focusing on the creation of excellent jewellery, but also on the promotion and conservation of our history and traditions with the Nocito Coral Museum in Sciacca, bringing Sciacca and its incredible events to international prominence through its craftsmanship.
During the ceremony, the masters of art were presented with a bronze cast designed by the Scuola dell’Arte della Medaglia (Art School of the Medal) of the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato (State Mint and Polygraphic Institute) and made in the foundries of the State Mint.

Mario Di Giovanna
Director of the Nocito Coral Museum of  Sciacca