th
tH
# 81 JULY 18 , 2016
# 81 juLY 18 , 2016
Those purely of an aesthetic and ornamental
value include a wide range of decorative objects,
such as flower boxes, vases, lamps, plates, statues,
party favours, souvenirs,
bowls, etc.
Even the colour of the
material varies according
to the chromophore oxides contained in the clay
resulting in a differentiated final product. Indeed, if the clay compound
has a greater presence of
iron oxides, the product
will have a colour from
yellow-orange to reddish-brown. Whereas, if titanium oxides are more
predominant, it will range
from white to yellow. After
being cleaned of impurities, the clay is mixed with
water.
This last technique, in particular, is especially used
for pottery production, as
it allows the craftsman to
express his own artistic
creativity and produce
unique items that are all
different from each other.
The modelling is then followed by the drying phase, which is very delicate
as it rids the product of
Once made homogene- remaining moisture and
ous and plastic, the mix- prevents any changes or
ture is then ready to be splits in the object.
shaped by the craftsman,
according to his skills and Subsequently, the firing
stage is performed, which
taste.
allows the now solid proClay modelling can be duct to preserve the shadone using various techni- pe in which it was modelques: freehand, using pla- led by the ceramist.
ster or clay moulds, using
The firing of the ceramic
slabs, or with a lathe.
takes place in special kilns
reaching very high temperatures and can last many
hours.
Depending on the various
transformations that occur
as the artefact is fired, different types of objects can
be achieved, such as terracotta, stoneware, porcelain and earthenware.
The last phase of the process is decorating and colouring the product; there
are primarily three types
of colours used: the engobes, crystallines and glazes. It should also be noted that if the product has
been enamelled, it must
undergo a second firing
to set the colours on the
finished object.
Production tools
The
craftsman’s
production tools are the lathe
and the kiln. The lathe, also
known as a “potter’s wheel” is a tool dating back to
3000 BC, the use of which requires great skill and
expertise. Nowadays, it
continues to be used primarily for the production
of pottery, dishes, bowls
and jugs. The machine is
made up of slab placed
on top of a revolving wooden surface, moved using
a foot pedal or small motor, at the centre of which
the clay mixture is placed
to be shaped.
ning kilns for firing the
artistic ceramics found in
the three centres of the
Reggio Calabria province, especially in Seminara, have common but also
unique features. For instance, there are kilns with
a dome-shaped cover, loaded sideways through
a small opening, or the
so-called “open well” kilns
where the product is lowered in from above.
side the kiln according
to stringent ancient rules
and are fired at temperatures reaching 1000 degrees for at least 12 hours,
including the cooling or
drying phase. This step is
very delicate and serves
to prevent the object from
becoming deformed or
damaged.
Once cooled, the raw products have a solid and
porous structure; before
being decorated and glazed by the ceramist, they
are immersed in iron oxide and other minerals. It
should be remembered
that the glazed object will
be fired once again at a
temperature of between
920 and 940 degrees.
Each kiln is made up of
two parts: the firing chamber and the combustion
chamber. The first contains the artefacts, and in
the second, completely
Through the combina- underground, the fire is lit
tion of the potter’s expert to fire them.
hands and the rotating
movement, the artwork ta- The artefacts ready for the
kes shape. The first kilns for initial firing are placed in- The product
ceramics were wood-fuelled and, from the Renaissance onwards, they were
built in masonry.
Nowadays – as well as
using the still operational
ancient
wood-burning
kilns – ceramics are fired
in methane, gas or electric
kilns, which can reach extremely high temperatures.
The traditional wood-bur-
30 | WE THE ITALIANS
WE THE ITALIANS | 31
www.wetheitalians.com
www.wetheitalians.com