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Ceramics decorations through history
1460-1465
OCCHIO PENNA DI PAVONE. The peacock feather motif is of ancient oriental
origin, and is inspired by the ideal of the rising sun. The ray-spread
polychrome bands are painted on the wide rims of the plates; the main
motif is developed by flat Roman tiles, trellis and fans. The background
is painted yellow ochre, known as faience Giallo Pavona. The prevailing
colours are turquoise, green and manganese brown. The overall effect is
sumptuous and is reminiscent of the colour of the iris.
CARTOCCIO
(floreale gotico). 1460-1469. A cluster often gives rise to a long stylised
sinuous curling leaf, within a turquoise design and with a green or peacock-yellow
backbone.
1497
ALLA
PORCELLANA. The motif is inspired by the blue and white ceramic of Ming
porcelain, renowned as English Blue and White. The people of Faenza learned
about it from the Venetian merchants and also by examining the services
of Lorenzo the Magnificent of Florence. The decoration is painted in fine
monochrome turquoise over white glaze. The Alla Porcellana motif of the
late XV century was known as Damaschina, because Damascus was among the
markets most frequented by Veneto merchants.
1500
FIORITO
GIALLO E BLU. A light, vivacious decoration drawing inspiration from XVI
century Faience majolica. The geometric lay-out combined with vegetal
elements led to tha name of this style: floral geometric. The particularly
rich decoration can consist of leaves, trophies or quarters. Vivacious
colours abound - yellow is juxtaposed with intense green and blue. The
decorative effect is very lively and attractive.
A
QUARTIERI. Historical period from early 1500 to 1525. A method of colouring
the surfaces of majolica by scanning in zones of alternating colours:
turquoise becomes dense and bright, the yellow is shrill. Painting achieves
a virtuoso level which is perhaps unnecessary in ceramics.
BERRETTINO.
Historical period 1500. Blue-grey majolica used as a background for decorative
themes such as grotesques, trophies of ancient arms, festoons of leaves
and fruit… For most of the XVI century Berrettino was to be the base
for "colour adventures" in turquoise, green, yellow, orange
and white.
RAFFAELLESCO.
Historical period 1540-1550. A decorative motif inspired by the grotesque
employed by Raphael and his circle for the frescos in the Vatican rooms.
This decoration is composed of tiny themes such as: cherubs, chimeras,
musical instruments, festoons, inside a subtle weft of tralici.
1550
COMPENDIARIO.
Images reduced to strokes and essential colours, such as blue, yellow
and brown on a milky white background. Rapidly sketched figures, essential
brush strokes reminiscent of classical examples and decorations of the
Raphaelite school. Cherubs, warriors and saints are surrounded by stylised
garlands; the pod-like, dynamic forms enhance the beauty of the white
glazed background. During the XVII century, the Compendiario spread far
and wide.
fine '700
GAROFANO.
In this decorative, exotic genre, a large flower - the Garofano of the
Indies - stands out over a Japanese garden. This type of decoration reached
the peak of its fame in Faenza in the late XVIII century, thanks to the
renowned Feriani factory. The motif is obtained over Berrettino majolica,
created by the Faenza majolica craftsmen in the XVI century. The accentuated
polychromatic charm made the Carnation or Garofano famous throughout the
world.
ALLA
GHIANDA. The Faenza boutiques offered these traditional decorations from
the end of the XVIII century to the beginning of the XIX century, always
in the form of services comprising many pieces. It was the Ferniani factory
that launched this motif with its neo-classical lines and taste, maintaining
it up the middle of the XIX century. The Ferniani motifs include festoons,
garlands and meanders, and stand out for their rarified elegance, typical
of this highly refined middle-class taste.
VITE
VERDE. The vine leaf was the prevailing motif in faience majolica at the
end of the XIX century. Many of the pieces were produced at the renowned
Ferniani factory. The motif is mainly used for neo-classical table services:
tea, coffee and chocolate. The delicately shaded green, with manganese
finish over a berettino background endow the individual pieces with an
unmistakable delicacy typical of a highly creative period in the city
of Faenza.
1800
SCOZZESE
BLU. The motif is believed to have been borrowed from Imola craftsmen.
The blue arches, intertwined over a white background, were used for decorating
plates, crockery and jugs. The sober lines and the essential compositions
reflect the purest taste of popular tradition, where functionality and
beauty are very closely linked. Rigour and unostentatious elegance make
the service particularly up-to-date.
1900
MELOGRANO.
Gold over blue is particularly important in this decoration. The workmanship
is highly wrought and complex, producing a result that recalls the tastes
and styles of the early XX century. The ostentation of the prezioso lends
a special light to the motif, which fits in eminently with modern classicism,
which already saw its splendour celebrated under the aegis of 50s-60s
memorabilia.
PADOVANI ARTISTIC CERAMICS Workroom: via Granarolo, 175/4 - phone 0546-46097
- fax 0546-44542 - 48018 Faenza (RA) Italy
info@robertapadovani.it