ARIES – Question: What has the same pH as a vibrant Aries? Answer: The nitric acid used in acquaforte. Fiery Aries’ high-energy personalities are strong enough to etch through metal: acquaforte, a type of intaglio printmaking, is made by scratching a design into a wax-protected metal plate (usually copper, zinc or steel), then dipped in an acid bath that eats through the rest of the metal, washed with ink and pressed to make prints. This type of etching dates back to the Middle Ages, when the technique was used to engrave decorations and motifs on armor–it’s no coincidence that Aries are named after the god of war. Just remember that although Aries may come off quite intense, they never mean any harm: they’re just always open and honest with their emotions. Aries acid really is nothing more than acqua forte–strong water.

TAURUS – Sturdy and stubborn: two adjectives to describe a Taurus or… a well-made wooden chair. One of the most resilient zodiac signs, the energy of a Taurus easily stands up to the woodworking–a craft that requires a strong arm and an ambitious mindset (which Taureans are never lacking). Secure in their beliefs, Taureans are not pushovers: these stubborn bulls are as immovable as a solid mahogany dresser (have you ever tried to push over a mahogany dresser?). Although woodworking styles vary across Italy–in Tuscany, ornate Intarsio is found on the doors of ancient cathedrals, while in Trentino, local pine woods are used to make hefty furniture–its an artisanal practice that’s deeply tied to the earth. Taurus, an earth sign too, has two feet (or perhaps four table legs?) firmly planted on the ground.

GEMINI – What else would the double-sided Gemini be than the most double-sided material we have? Paper has two sides for a reason: one could be the beginning of your award-winning novel and the other perhaps just your grocery list. The Gemini twins also have two faces that may seem intrinsically incompatible with each other, and yet it’s this exact contrast that makes them so fascinating and that makes you want to turn their page. Geminis are famously adaptable (as adaptable as a blank page), though you may not expect it at first. Paper too is able to fit into many forms: tissue, cardboard, glossy magazines and more. Geminis are never judgemental, and with an open, unwritten-on mind, they easily fit into any social situation. Curious and inquisitive, this air sign is always looking for stories… How lucky that paper–no matter how unsubstantial it may physically seem–is the craft that has carried the most since its Italian beginning on the Amalfi Coast in the 13th century.

CANCER – One of the most delicate signs of the zodiac, Cancers are a perfect fit for embroidery. The intricate craft–whether Venice’s burano lace, Florence’s flame stitch Bargello or the ancient Assisi technique–adorns napkins, pillow cases and table cloths in homes across Italy. Cancers are caregivers who love to meticulously decorate their homes: it’s these embroidered pieces–elaborate and beautiful, but not showy–that they would pick to personalize their space. Cancers exude the same level of coziness as the embroidered birds or flowers that embellish linenware passed down from generation to generation. At their worst, these astrological crabs can be moody and unpredictable, and aren’t afraid to hit you with a sharp pinch. But once you give them your complete attention, they’ll be perfectly content: likewise, embroiderers can’t take their eyes off their work for a second…unless they want a good pierce from a needle gone astray.

LEO – Bold and bright Leos are just like copperware–the type of kitchen equipment you couldn’t possibly hide away in a cabinet. Walk through any countryside kitchen in Italy: the best copper pots and pans (Agnone, Molise is Italy’s historic home of quality coppersmiths) are displayed loud and proud along the wall for all to see–the enchanting bronze shimmers and shines whether on the stove or off. Leos too easily draw attention: it’s impossible to smother their light (and they’re very brilliant). The metal heats up quickly and evenly–just the way Leos are strong and confident in their emotions. Don’t forget that copper (and Leos) aren’t for everyone: they’re pricey investments that require special time and care. You must treat these bronzed lions well in order to get the same in return!

VIRGO – Little by little, detail by detail, piece by piece is how Virgos and mosaicists work. The Pietra Dura technique–in which teeny pieces of precious stones are puzzled together to create intricate pictures–-began in Florence thanks to the royal Medici family who commissioned large, ornate pieces for their palaces. Systematic perfectionists, Virgos are very precise and love handling the littlest of details: they’d have a field day picking fragments of malachite, lapis lazuli and onyx, and planning the blueprint of the final image–perhaps a simple, bright flower or the rolling hills of a Tuscan landscape. They believe–and very rightfully so in the case of mosaics!–that the small is essential for the beauty of the big. Good thing Virgos are willing to take however much time is needed for a quality craft: large mosaic pieces can take years to make!

LIBRA – Sparkly inside and out, Libras are easily matched by the art of the orafo–practiced since Etruscan times to make shimmering necklaces, earrings, buckles, bracelets, filigreed portraits and engraved gemstones. Goldsmithing and jewelry making reached their peak during the Renaissance when the extravagant, royal courts of the time had an insatiable desire for all things gilded (oh, what they would have done with a Bedazzler!)–a philosophy that Libras, royal or otherwise, can get behind. All that glitters is not gold however. Although people-pleasing Libras may be sugary sweet on the surface (most of the time), they can easily tell a true from a false–whether it be a bejeweled golden ring or their latest love interest. Today, Italy is the world’s largest exporter of golden jewelry: everybody wants a piece, however many karats, of Italian goldsmithing… as popular and beloved as a Libra!

SCORPIO – Scorpios are ruled by Pluto, the dwarf planet that controls both destruction and transformation. What better than ceramics–whose shapeable clay is built up and brought down many times before reaching its final form? Practical and passionate, Scorpios don’t dance around sensitive topics: likewise, ceramics aren’t meant to be precious. Ever since the art form’s Italian beginning in the 1350s–when Italian maiolica (tin-glazed pottery) was first produced–ceramics have been created for everyday life. Earthenware jugs for hearty house wines, terracotta planters for the garden, maiolica plates for weeknight and weekend dinners alike all have a practical mindset that fits the energy of no-nonsense Scorpios. The style that might be the most perfect, however, is schizzato: translating literally to “splattered”, this Pollock-esque pottery from Puglia is as unpredictable as a Scorpio.

SAGITTARIUS – The most adventurous sign of the zodiac deserves the most adventurous craft: shoemaking–an artisanal profession in Italy since Ancient Rome, when footwear was a signifier of wealth and power. Whether leather dress shoes or velvet Furlane, Italians know how to make long-lasting shoes for tromping around cities and la campagna alike: it’s the only craft that can hold up to the meteoric pace Sagittariuses like to keep. Like any shoe, Sagittariuses take a bit of time to break-in: their brutal honesty isn’t for everyone. When they are fond of you, Sagittariuses are like custom-made shoes with arch support–there to strongly support you no matter what and no matter when. But when they’re not such a fan… Sagittariuses will pinch your toes and grind your ankles until you have festering blisters (they know which buttons to press!). 

CAPRICORN – One of the strongest and longest lasting textiles, leather is the perfect match for stable Capricorns. In its most obvious forms–Matrix-esque jackets, well-structured bags, businessy shoes–leather comes off a bit rigid. However, as with Capricorns, this stiffness is just a front: when you get a bit closer, wrapping yourself in, say, a vintage leather trench, you see just how buttery soft leather (and Capricorns) can be. In Italy, the leatherworking dates back to the ​​year 1000, when the Saracens brought the textile to Sicily, and Florence, one of our country’s leather capitals, has maintained an active leather-workers guild, Arte dei Cuoiai, since 1282. One thousand years later, this robust craft is still going strong–just like resilient and ambitious Capricorns, loyal friends and companions for much longer than a millennium. 

AQUARIUS – Idealistic and humanitarian Aquariuses are a perfect match for tapestry weaving. Although brightly-colored, tapestries’ scenes display stories of ethics, philosophy, the meaning of life–just like Aquariuses who love discussing deep subjects and can’t be bothered with the frivolous. Magical at synthesizing ideas, Aquariuses are big picture thinkers: they take each and every thread of info they come across, understanding where each piece fits in. A tapestry weaver must do the same, interlacing discontinuous threads into a grand picture of, say, mythological plots, Ancient Roman feasts or even beheadings. Aquariuses are very capable at hiding their vulnerable sides, their frayed edges. The same is true of tapestries: you must find your way to their hidden sides to see where the loose threads lie.

PISCES – Pisces often live in a world of imagination, and glassblowing’s fantastical, colorful creations are no different. Imagine tiny, technicolored ants; large, dotted vases; twirled chandeliers straight out of a fairytale. No two glass-blown objects can be exactly alike: the possibilities of glassmaking are as endless as the Pisces creativity. Go-with-the-flow Pisces are just as malleable as molten glass, turned white hot by a fiery furnace before a master craftsman–the most renowned of which come from Murano, Venice–twists and turns the incandescent material into its final, exquisite form. Pisces may also come across as a bit airy–too in their own heads to move in a forward direction. But Pisces are surprisingly driven and capable; though it may seem like glass is delicate–ready to shatter into a million tiny shards (and sometimes it is)–the skilled glass blowers of Murano make many sturdy pieces. The charm of these cups, jugs and bowls easily instills a bit of Pisces dreaminess into everyday life.