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Ceramic
manufacturing |
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 |
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| .....A
Jug of the early 1900s |
A
dish of the early 1900s |
A
tureen of the late 1800s........... |
| |
| The
potters dug up clay clods in the local pits, then, after letting
it dry, crushed it, sifted it and kneaded it. |
| The
clay was used for various purposes: the sandy blue was used for
the production of bricks and tiles; the grey for ewers, pitchers,
dishware; the reddish, containing iron, for the production of fireproof
skillets and pots. |
| The
entire family was involved with the kiln, including the women. Trade
secrets were jealously guarded and handed down from father to son.
Once the clay had been kneaded, it was set to rest in containers,
from which quantities were removed, as needed, to be worked with
on the potter's wheel. |
| The
manufactured pieces were sun-dried first, and then cooked in the
furnaces. Kilns had a cone shape and were capped by a rounded lid
with an opening to vent the smoke. |
| . |
A
vase of the last century |
|
| Each
kiln was about 8 cubic meters in size with a capacity for
3 to 5 thousand pieces of assorted pieces. Cooking required
25 to 30 quintals of firewood. |
| A
finished product would require two consecutive firings, the
first one bisque and the second for glazing. |
| Two
types of enamel were used: the white for grey clay items and
the crystalline glaze for red clays. White glaze was prepared
by mixing Tropea silica sand with plumbic and tin oxide to
obtain a high gloss. |
The
crystalline came in powder form. It was mixed with water
and could be used immediately. The next step was dipping
in colorants: the pieces were dipped in containers of stain,
while the white ones were decorated afterwards. |
The
most frequently used colors were blue, for geometrical patterns;
yellow, green and its various gradations, and red for floral
patterns. Recurring decorative themes consisted of geometrical
designs, circles, Greek frets and “mascarina”
rose, in former times the only rose variety grown locally.
This rose is also reproduced in the town’s coat of
arms. |
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