Archive category Artistic ceramics

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Easter is coming and for many, in Italy and in the world, it will not be the “usual” Easter. However, the moment of difficulty that we are going through for the Coronavirus emergency must not make us forget our origins and man’s natural aspiration for beauty. For this reason, also this year we offer you some images of the ceramic Easter eggs that we hand-painted for the occasion: small gift items that come from a tradition of our territory, ceramics, and convey another tradition, that of the Christian holidays of Easter.

Why do you give Easter eggs?
Before tackling the origins of a custom still in vogue, it is good to know that the symbolism of the egg has ancient origins: according to some pagan populations the egg represented the union of heaven and earth, while the Egyptians considered it the center of the four elements (earth, air, fire, water). The egg is also considered the symbol of life.

We have made this large ornamental plate in majolica with a diameter of 62 cm with a central scene inspired by the “Pastoral Subject” by Francois Boucher (18th century). The border is richly decorated in Raphaeleque style with inserts of hilly and fluvial landscapes alternating with dancing cherubs on a blue background.
The dish presents a vast sample of the decorative richness of the Raphaeleque, with garlands, leaves, cherubs and winged figures from the man’s bust.

It is a unique and signed piece of particular value, where the decoration of ceramics is real painting. Its realization required a great decorative effort; both the central scene and the Raphaelesque figures are painted with a brush tip with great attention and precision. We are certain that you will spend hours observing this dish before having grasped all the details of its meticulous decorations.
Buy this plate on CeramicaFaenza.it

Ceramics have been produced in Faenza since the Middle Ages, but it is from the late fifteenth century, when the majolica technique reaches perfection, that decorations inspired by the Byzantine world, Arab culture and the Middle and Far East are developed. Faenza’s Renaissance decorations – the same that we produce in our shops even today – have become famous all over the world, bringing the name of Faenza to become synonymous with majolica.

The majolica of Faenza therefore has a long history that survives in the many shops of potters still working in Faenza, and is preserved in the International Museum of Ceramics – MIC.
MIC – International Museum of Ceramic in Faenza

The MIC is among the main points of artistic and historical interest of the city of Faenza, as well as probably the most important museum of ceramic art in the world. Founded in 1908, its ceramics collection has grown over time thanks to the efforts of Gaetano Ballardini, director of the MIC until 1953.

The ones you see in the photos below are some of the pieces we produce since the 80s, of different sizes and with some variations, inspired by a fifteenth-century vase probably made in Faenza and kept at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

The idea of ​​re-elaborating the decoration of such an ancient and important ceramics came to us during a visit to the famous London museum in the late ’70s: we had just started the activity and we were literally enchanted in front of a room full of Renaissance ceramics (at that time the museum spaces were not rationalized like today: the display density was greater, there were a great quantity of pieces in a single room and the glance was of great impact). We were not equipped with a camera, so we pinned on a notepad the decorations of some pieces, among which the vase decorated with braided neck animals that we interpreted as a symbol of marriage, love and, in general, of union; it was probably commissioned to give a couple of newlyweds a present.

We have thus created plates and vases in majolica variously decorated: in the picture you can see a vase painted similarly to the original and a plate that instead brings the birds with long braided neck surrounded by decorations in Pavona and Persian Palmette styles.