Italian ceramic art | the pottery gleam with colors that never fade
Italy’s purest art after Murano glasses
The new era in the history of ceramic tile production largely reflects mass production in China and enhanced production capabilities in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. For this reason, the production centers of this product in southern Europe, namely Italy and Spain, are still considered and admired. Italian ceramic art is considered as one of the purest art available in the green continent.
A brief history of ceramic tiles and pottery
Pottery is one of the most ancient human arts and in fact the source of the art of producing ceramic tiles. The first works of this art in the Middle East date back to about 10,000 BC, which is in the form of uncooked mud, and the works of the first pottery kilns date back to about 6000 BC.
Bold glazed tiles were stacked together in large mosaic patterns. Muslim craftsmen used metal oxides such as tin, copper, cobalt, magnesium, and antimony to glaze the tiles, resulting in a brighter, stronger glaze. In the 15th century, metal oxide glazed tiles became popular in Italy and gradually penetrated among artisans in northern Italy which now is considered as Italian ceramic art .
There are similarities between Italian and Spanish ceramic art such as the formation of overly dense and highly cohesive industrial groups that display an unparalleled capacity for artistic expression and technical innovation. Both countries are trying to recover from the economic and social downturn caused by the financial crises in Europe and the world. Their privileged ceramic arts have suffered from declining domestic consumption, which is a consequence of double-digit unemployment rates and decline in constructions.
Modern ceramic industries
Modern ceramic is a way to create an interior design, not only in the bathroom and kitchen, as in the past, but in any other room. The characteristic of Italian ceramic art is that with its help, you can achieve accurate styling.
The Italian ceramic production center is concentrated in the thriving region of Emilia-Romagna, which is also important in the footwear, food, and automotive industries. Hundreds of companies are engaged in the production of ceramic tiles and various supporting departments that supply glaze and enamel paint and tile production equipment.
Majolica
Maiolica, also known as Majolica, is an Italian ceramic art which made tin-glazed pottery since the Renaissance. It is painted on a white background, sometimes depicting historical and mythical scenes, known as "historical art" ("painting with a story"). In the late 15th century, several places, mainly small towns in northern and central Italy, produced elaborate decorative pieces for the luxury market in Italy and beyond.
Buongiorno Ceramica!
Buongiorno Ceramica is an annual event in Spring that has been organized by AiCC (Associazione Italiana ColtureCellulari) since 2015. In the 'Buongiorno Ceramica' (Good Morning Ceramics) ceremony fascinating stories of 40 Italian cities of ceramic have been told.
Stories of work and passion along with technical inventions are being told for the audience who want to know more about Italian ceramic art and artisans!
Origins of Italian ceramic art (40 cities of ceramic)
In the province of Ravenna is a city named Faenza which is famous for its close relationship with ceramics. In Faenza style, craftsmen introduced a new ceramic with white surface and thicker and whiter enamel.
Tuscany
Tuscany is another origin of Italian ceramic art which is very close to Florence, the most historical and artistic city in the world. Wealthy families of Florence had ordered the best ceramics for their houses from Montelupo Fiorentino – one of the 40 cities of ceramic which is located in Tuscany province.Some characteristics of Tuscany ceramic are as follow:
Italian ceramic art
In the 15th century, metal oxide glazed tiles became popular in Italy and gradually penetrated among artisans in northern Italy. Major European trade centers paid attention to these local motifs so that some of these tiles are still in use, such as Delft tiles (from Delft in the Netherlands) and Majolica tiles (from Mallorca in Spain).
Italy in the mid-nineteenth century witnessed the revival of the art of ceramics, and ceramic makers used them in facades and wall decorations, but World War II destroyed the old technique of making materials, especially in the United States. After World War II, Italian ceramic makers combined the new style of ceramics with an ancient method and presented this art in the most accurate form.
By the time the ancient period of ceramics came to an end, a new industry developed and ceramics became an essential part of buildings and their interior decoration. With the development of this art, the components and materials of ceramic production evolved and various types of ceramics such as the bathroom, kitchen, ceramics for flooring and wall covering in square and rectangular squares, and even large and small polygons with different colors and designs were produced.
At present, Italian ceramic and pottery art has special importance and prestige in industrial and construction works and even the production of utensils, objects, and decorative products. Many Italian artists are into making a variety of utensils and various products via ceramic with great time and care which represent Italian ceramic art. They offer a desirable and artistic quality that is of special interest to art lovers. In addition, the art of making ceramic has a special place and prestige in many countries in Africa and the Pacific, as well as in countries such as the United States and Canada.
Last Word
Archaeologists have found that early humans had used the art of making ceramic around 24,000 BC. These ceramics are found in Czechoslovakia and are in the form of animals and human figures, flat boards, and balls. Italian ceramic was made from animal fat along with their bones and bone ashes and some fine-grained clay, and after forming it was baked at a temperature of about 500 to 800 degrees in dome-shaped furnaces. That is why Italian ceramic art is considered the purest type of art.
