La Ramera - Museo Storico del Rame

La Ramera, the Historical Copper Museum in Agnone, presents the town's coppersmithing tradition through tools, workshops and finished objects. The adjoining Gerbasi family workshop continues the craft.

Why it matters

Copperworking was a major part of Agnone's economic history. The town's 1456 statutes regulated the trade, and the 1753 census recorded more than 150 families working in it. The museum is dedicated to Francesco Gerbasi, born in San Buono in 1856, whose descendants have continued the craft across generations.

What to notice

The displays follow the stages of copperworking, from shaping sheet metal to the finishing work of a chaser. Original tools and reconstructed workshop settings show the processes behind everyday forms such as boilers, basins and pots, as well as chased decorative pieces. The adjacent workshop links the historic collection with the ongoing work of the Gerbasi family.

Context and history

The 1456 Statuti e Capitoli set rules and penalties for copperworking in Agnone. The Catasto Onciario of 1753 recorded more than 150 families engaged in the craft. In 1641, Ferrante della Marra listed Agnone's coppersmiths alongside those of Prato, Crema, Fabriano and Barletta. The Gerbasi family established a continuing coppersmithing lineage in the town and created the museum dedicated to Francesco Gerbasi.