Italian Majolica: A Timeless Art

When discussing ceramics, it's crucial to distinguish between mass-produced items and handcrafted pieces. While mass-produced ceramics often refer to the tile industry, hand-made ceramics, known as maiolica, represent a centuries-old tradition preserved in ateliers and workshops across Italy.

The Essence of Maiolica

Giovanni Conti's "L’Arte della Maiolica Italiana" remains a seminal text on the subject, capturing the magic and uniqueness of this craft. Conti's work emphasizes the fundamental elements involved in creating maiolica:

• Soil (Clay): The very foundation of maiolica, clay is shaped and molded.

• Water: Cleansing and vital, water transforms soil, making it malleable.

• Air & Fire: These elements act as a driving force, continuously influencing the transformations of the material.

The maiolica object, born from the interplay of these four elements, becomes a microcosm mirroring the macrocosm. It embodies the properties of earthly materials combined with a sense of the divine.

The Potter as Creator

The act of pottery creation shares parallels with ancient creation myths. Like the Egyptian god Knum, who molded humankind from clay, potters become creators, shaping matter and understanding its essence. This connection with clay is often subconscious, a dialogue between the artist and the material. Similar to alchemists, potters use clay as the raw material for their work, transforming mundane soil into something precious.

The Alchemical Process

The process of shaping pottery involves a series of steps reminiscent of alchemical practices:

1. Preparation: Clay is cleansed, washed, and made malleable.
2. Shaping: The "real" material is transformed into a "fantastic image."
3. Drying: Air acts as a catalyst, giving the object consistency.

Techniques and Traditions

Piccolpasso, in the mid-16th century, documented the instruments and techniques of pottery making, including lathe construction, baking methods, and oven preparation. The "biscuit," the result of the first firing, is a stepping stone towards the final product. To make the porous material impermeable, techniques like using siliceous soil, liquid "ingobbio," and lead-based enamels were developed. Stanniferous enamel creates the white, waterproof layer crucial for polychrome decoration.

The Evolution of Maiolica

The term "maiolica" originally referred to enameled and painted pottery influenced by Moorish Spain. These pieces often featured oriental motifs and iridescent varnishes. Italian potters replicated these techniques, sometimes adding a third firing to achieve the characteristic iridescence. Deruta and Gubbio, particularly under Master Giorgio Andreoli, became renowned for this style.

The true innovation of Italian maiolica was the application of a full pictorial palette directly onto the stanniferous surface before the second firing. This technique, developed in the early 16th century, represented a significant advancement. Each atelier guarded its unique techniques and "secrets," contributing to their reputation and success.

The Potter's Sensitivity

Despite meticulous processes, success and failure were both part of the pottery experience. Potters often attributed outcomes to "celestial influences," recognizing the almost esoteric sensitivity required for the craft. This attitude persists even in modern times, among those who continue the fascinating alchemical process of pottery making.