The grolla and the friendship cup

In the Aosta Valley, wood has long been used to make household objects. Two of them have become symbols: the grolla and the friendship cup. They are found on the stalls of the Fair of Saint Ours. The Museum of Aosta Valley crafts, for its part, presents the full range of the valley’s skills.

The grolla, a lidded goblet

The grolla is a wine goblet with a lid. It is carved from a single block of wood, turned, and sometimes sculpted. According to the Autonomous Region of the Aosta Valley, its origin is both religious and convivial. It was kept for great occasions.

Everyday bowls

For everyday meals, people used wooden bowls instead, often with two handles. The grolla remained the object of feast days.

The friendship cup

The friendship cup derives from the grolla. It is lower and rounder. It has several spouts and a carved lid. It is used mainly for coffee “alla valdostana”, served flaming. It has become a symbol of friendship.

A turner’s skill

Grollas and cups belong to woodturning, a technique still present in Aosta Valley crafts. In 2026 the summer events in Aosta also hosted an international gathering devoted to woodturning, “Tourneurs sans frontières”. To see these objects, you can also visit the Aosta Summer Fair.

Sources: Autonomous Region of the Aosta Valley – Les objets caractéristiques, Rendez Vous en Vallée d’Aoste – La Foire d’Été 2026.