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  It's like owning a piece
of Sicily. In fact, it is a piece of Sicily. The Sicilian ceramic
master's craft is deeply rooted in time. This timeless art has flourished
for millennia, from the terra cotta of the Sicanians and Greeks to the majolica
(maiolica) of the Middle Ages, perfectly expressing the essence of Mediterranean
culture. Shapes, colours and motifs are born of a profound respect for the
past with an eye to the future. Terra cotta harvested from the earth and
caressed by the Sicilian sun. Like any other unique work of art, a majolica
ceramic piece begins with an idea. Rooted in tradition but interpreted creatively,
that idea is the vision of an individual artist. Then there's the material.
The clay found in each region of the world is unique. Sicilian clay, used
in terra cotta earthenware over the millennia, is different from the clay
of Mexico or Mongolia because it contains a combination of silicates unique
to Sicily.
Terra cotta was the first ceramic, from the Greek keramos (potter's clay). In medieval times, fired and enameled majolica was popular. A majolica object is fired once to form terra cotta, then painstakingly painted in ornate motifs with rich glazes before being fired (baked) in a kiln again. During this last phase of creation, something miraculous happens. The glazed enamel crystallizes, actually binding to the ceramic as it assumes a deeper, more distinct color. The "ground" or base color of majolica is usually white or a deeper earth color, and creates the effect of the colors you see in the final product. The most enduring designs of Sicily's majolica tradition are those associated with the Baroque, a post-medieval movement characterized by ornate motifs in art and architecture. In its most general sense, "ceramic," describes a vast array of artistic techniques leading to the creation of items such as pottery fashioned from hardened or baked clay. Terra cotta (Italian for "baked earth") is a process of baking or partially baking clay objects to make them brittle and water-resistant. Known as earthenware, the clay pottery of ancient Egypt was terra cotta of this type. When the clay is fully baked (fired) at a higher temperature, resulting in an opaque material, it is referred to simply as "ceramic" or "stoneware." If the clay is mixed with feldspar or steatite before baking, the resulting ceramic material is known as porcelain. In general, ceramic is a shade of brown or "terra cotta" even after firing, and somewhat coarse (granular) in consistency. Porcelain is usually rather translucent, with a white or gray color and a more refined (less granular) texture. As its name implies, the porcelain known as "china" was originally made exclusively in China. The best known European porcelain is called Capodimonte, after the Italian town where it is still made today. Porcelain is a form of ceramic, but not all ceramic is porcelain. Majolica, from the Italian for "Majorca," refers to the form of ceramic earthenware made in Italy that is painted with tin oxide glazing enamels before being fired to a reflective, durable finish. Most of the ceramic art sold in Sicily today is majolica. However, "majolica" (or maiolica) is a rather recent term. Much of the majolica produced in Sicily is purely decorative --even items such as plates. If a majolica item is to be used for serving food or beverages (plates, cups, etc.), it is important that its glaze enamels contain no lead. |
