When colors meet history. These are the ceramics of Grottaglie, the Jonic town located not far from Taranto. Many potters of the shops dot the famous street of the town of Taranto in the ‘Quartiere delle ceramiche” (‘Ceramics District’). Thanks to the abundance of clay in the territory ceramic production has been the main source of income for Grottaglia economy. Grottaglie is the only town in Puglia inserted in the restricted list of the 28 cities of Italian ceramic.
It’s easy to get lost and be fascinated by the artistic creations in various shops, workshops and kilns, some placed in the rock underground, used in the past as mills, scattered along the road. A thriving craft that today is recognized and appreciated all over the world.
The first documentation of Grottaglie ceramics dates back to post-medieval. Up to 1550 the absence of feudal courts characterizes craftsmanship with forms of everyday use and very simple decorations. In the seventeenth century, the first works of art and, in the eighteenth century, the production ‘faenzara’ had a predominant role, with pottery characterized by friezes of classical and neoclassical taste. In the nineteenth century, when in the rest of Puglia crafts loses importance in favor of other materials, Grottaglie maintains and increases its commitment to the creation of artifacts. This is the moment that sees the birth of different laboratories of excellence.
A characteristic of the production grottagliese is the decoration of the Cockerel, generally polychrome, and the Star, made with five points that form a pentagon around a central point. The typical decorative colors: copper green, cobalt blue, yellow ocher and manganese brown. A wide range of traditional forms of tableware, containers for oil, salt, dishes, bowls, cups and much more will enrich your kitchen with beautiful colors.
Among the events of particular interest related to the enhancement of this craftsmanship there are the Ceramics Exhibition (August) and the Exhibition of the Nativity (December), in addition to prestigious permanent exhibition at the Museum of Ceramics in the halls of Bishop’s Castle.
