Innovation, attention to detail, art, history.
How many
Castelli, in the Abruzzo province of Teramo, has been the most popular center in Italy since 1500 for the processing of handcrafted ceramics.
A small town of workshops and masters who for over 400 years have carried on the tradition and love for ceramic processing. And we are in love with it.
The village
Castelli is located on the slopes of Monte Camicia in the heart of the Gran Sasso National Park, in Abruzzo. The processing of artistic ceramics has its roots in the late Middle Ages but reaches its peak only in the 1500s with the development of a real ceramic trade.
In the village there are still many artisans who, in their workshops, continue to preserve this centenary tradition that has made the city of Castelli famous throughout Italy.
The ceramic
The processing of ceramics was originally an activity that required adequate structures and places where it was easy to find raw materials. In fact it is precisely the characteristics of the territory that have made the development of this tradition possible, thanks to the presence of minerals and silica, as well as the ease in finding water, wood and clay.
Drawing
The drawing is the starting point, the craftsman makes sketches of the object as a guideline for its creation.
Turning and forming
The clay is first modeled and then shaped on a lathe. The objects created are first left to dry and then they are baked in the oven. After firing, the objects are glazed.
Decoration
The decoration is the final phase where the ceramic is painted according to an already established draw or following a traditional decorative theme. Once the decoration is finished, the object is baked a second time in the oven.
Why Castelli?
It all started with a pleasant encounter with an artisan from Castelli. We had the opportunity and the good fortune to get to know this beautiful reality, and we were literally blown away.
A perfect combination of art, tradition, history and culture, all told by a small ceramic pot. Just like this ceramic pot, ours is not just a plant but a small casket that contains our and your commitment to something bigger and more important.
