MANIFATTURA CALATINA XIX secolo maiolica craquelé - Vase - Ceramic

Artistic ceramic vase with craquelé glaze and distinctive twisted handles, attributable to the style of Sicilian craftsmanship and, in particular, to the historic ceramic tradition of Caltagirone.

This type of artifact revisits the classic shapes of Mediterranean amphorae and traditional storage jars, reinterpreting them through a light monochrome glaze, often in ivory or antique white tones. The surface is enriched by a dense network of glaze crazing, typical of the craquelé effect, while the conspicuous torchon-shaped handles emphasize its sculptural and decorative character.

Caltagirone Ceramics
There is a place in Sicily where art is not only exhibited in museums but is breathed in the streets, adorning the facades of buildings and decorating balconies. This place is Caltagirone, the “City of Ceramics,” whose very name, derived from the Arabic Qal'at al-ghiran ("Rocca dei vasi"), reveals its deepest soul. The history of Caltagirone pottery is a fascinating tale, a thread of clay that unfolds over more than two millennia, intertwining cultures, dominations and renaissances.

Although clay-working in the area dates back to prehistoric and Greek times, it was with the arrival of the Arabs in the 9th century that Caltagirone experienced its first great artistic revolution. The Moors not only augmented existing production techniques, but introduced a novelty that would change everything: tin glaze. This technique, which involves coating the piece with a tin-based glaze, allowed for a white and bright surface, perfect to be decorated with vibrant colors.

It was an explosion of creativity. Arab artisans introduced geometric motifs, phytomorphic designs (inspired by the vegetal world) and calligraphic styles, together with the colors that still define the Calatino palette today: cobalt blue, copper green and ochre yellow. Thus, Caltagirone maiolica was born.

The 18th and 19th centuries represent the peak of Calatino production. The great families of ceramists, such as the Bongiovanni and Vaccaro, reached exceptional levels of mastery. Production diversified: alongside tiles, large decorative amphorae, albarelli (pharmaceutical jars) and figurative works gained prominence.

Being an antique object, an authentic vintage piece, it may show slight signs of time, perfectly normal and characteristic of its history.

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