Impruneta Terracotta
Terracotta from Impruneta is one of the excellent materials produced in Tuscany according to a millenary tradition.
The so-called “terracotta civilization” was born, in fact, around the 11th century in the middle of the Medieval period in the village of Impruneta, located on the Florentine hills.
The tradition of Impruneta terracotta represents a heritage of great value and an element of cultural identity for this town a few kilometers from Florence.
Even today, the many local production companies keep the tradition alive by spreading it beyond regional and national borders.
From the jars to the Brunelleschi’s Dome: all the uses of Impruneta terracotta
The first documents attesting the production of terracotta in the Chianti area date back to the 11th century.
Jars, jars and vases of all kinds were produced for the use and consumption of citizens and merchants, as well as bricks, bricks and building materials.
In 1419 Filippo Brunelleschi chose Impruneta terracotta to build the dome of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence.
Given the unique characteristics of lightness and solidity of this material: in fact, the vault is not equipped with any supporting armor.
To this day, the profile and the unmistakable color make Brunelleschi’s Dome the undoubted symbol of the city of Florence.
Galestro and iron oxide, a fundamental combination
There are two fundamental elements of Impruneta terracotta: galestro, a particular type of clay that makes the product incredibly resistant to cold down to -30 °C.
So much so that it is called in jargon “antifreeze terracotta”, and iron, which gives it that fantastic shade of red, not surprisingly known as “terracotta red”.
The Tuscan craftsman is, par excellence, a creative craftsman.
There are different types of terracotta processing: model, round and ground work. The first two involve the use of various kinds of molds, while the last is conducted exclusively by hand.
Obviously the background work turns out to be the most fascinating of all!
Observing a master potter who works without the aid of forms, slowly, in search of absolute perfection, is a unique spectacle!