The
terracottas of Impruneta (Florence) differ much from the other
productions and types of terracottas. This is due to the geological
characteristic of the soil and to the chemical composition of
the clay: this give the finished product an elevated resistance
to the cold and a beautiful warm color, rich in shades. The manufacturing
of 'terra-cotta' in Impruneta dates back to the first Etruscan
settlements of the zone. In 1308 a corporation of jarmakers and
'mezzinai' (masters of terracottas) was formed in the neighborhood
of Pieve of Santa Maria of Impruneta.
During the Renaissance many artists availed of the Terra-cotta
of Impruneta. Amongst these is Brunelleschi who used it to form
the tiles for the covering of the Dome of Florence's Cathedral.
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Information
has it that Donatello, Andrea del Verrocchio and other artists
had carried out works with the furnaces of Impruneta. The Della
Robbia in particular possessed their own furnace from which emerged
unrepeatable works of art. All these had made it such that from
the Renaissance onwards the use of these decorative elements in
Terracottas had become more vast such as: vases, basins, statues,
sculptures, columns, coat of arms, various architectural ornaments
and tiles. Here you can find only a selection between the vast
quantity of pieces of our collection, don't hesitate to contact
us if you have a particular request or need something that is
not on line!
This section of 'Antique Tuscany' is divided
in:
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