The workshop

In 1982, Antonino Puglia, keen in ceramic and artist for pleasure decided to create a laboratory in the Sorrento peninsula wherein to revive the ancient tradition of Campanian artistic ceramic.
This is how the workshop "Ceramica Artistica Sorretina"is born.The "Ceramica Artistica Sorrentina” workshop is characterized by the perfect combination of earth, water and fire, skillfully shaped by the hand of man, carving with color lines, drawings and imagination.

The sun and the sea, as well as the palette of the brightest nature colors, combined with the ancient traditions of the Sorrento peninsula are the subjects used in the ceramic art productions

A celebration of life, of joy and radiance of this corner of the world, a micro-cosmos where the sun always seems to shine high in the sky.

All this radiance is directed in the production of pottery, tableware, tiles, lava stone tables and gifts of high artistic value, strictly hand painted to bring a little bit of the Sorrento Peninsula in the heart, at home or in the office.

History

The creativity and imagination of Sorrento artisans didn’t stop with the inlay, a noble example of an ancient and precious art, at the constant search for perfection of joints, shapes and colors. But in the recent past have also been extended to ceramics.

In fact, although it does not boast a long tradition, in the land of the Sirens has spread slowly this artistic expression, typical of the Amalfi Coast, but transformed and reinvented by the creativity and the imagination of the skilled Sorrento ceramists.

Unlike Vietri ceramics, characterized by elaborate patterns and colors, the artistic Sorrento ceramic is characterized by the use of a warm and sunny chromatism, inspired by the colors of the sun and the sea: an explosion of sea blue, sunshine yellow, deep orange, intense vivid green ... in a whirlwind of basic and bright colors, clear and intense.

Drawings are distinguished by the simplicity and the by essential lines and decoration, enhanced by a skillful use of color. And here the sea and the sky, nature and animals, stylized in arabesques which pays tribute to the beauty of the earth where the ceramic is produced.

In addition to traditional subjects, such as Sorrento’s lemons, there are also zoomorphic subject, fantastic animals figures, up to reaching harmonies shaped by a Mediterranean palette combinations, enveloping and fascinating, a riot of creativity that could only develop in the Sorrento Peninsula.

Ceramics not only as a mere ornament, but integral part of the country where it is made. A precious memory, to give or to give yourself...

Production

Starting from a ceramic semifinished of different shapes and sizes, the productions starts with the stage of glazing.

The glazing is the phase in which a white enamel background is spread on the semifinished in order to protect the piece from usury, simplifying the maintenance and the cleaning, as well as the decorative process.
Apparently simple the enamel work requires a mastery of the craftsman who must to be careful in depositing the right amount of product on the whole surface.

After finishing the glazing, the craftsman can proceed to the paintings, also known as "over glaze ", during which the craft paints, by hand, on the base previously glazed.
The colors used for the ceramic decoration are made from natural ground minerals, which are diluted with water and then applied with brushes of various sizes, according to the accomplishing picture.
It is in this stage that is shows the artisan skill, in so far on the next second baking phase, the color changes tone, and for this reason, the master potter must anticipate the final color.

Then it is the time of the vitrification, a process in which the object is sprayed with a glass paste, called "crystalline".

Afterwhich there is the second firing the so-called "del bello" firing, which serves to fix the decoration. In this phase the crystal becomes transparent and the object assumes a bright and shiny aspect, and no less importantly, it becomes waterproof.

SUGGESTION:
HOW TO MAINTAIN BEAUTIFUL THE CERAMIC

It is advisable to wash the ceramic pieces by hand.

When using the dishwasher must follow some simple steps:

• First you need to set up a special washing cycle for porcelain, though present, low temperature, using a good quality detergent.
• It is good place things not too close, but it is better to keep them at a certain distance, to avoid that during the wash cycle they may touch each other and scratching, or even break.

The  use in the oven or microwave is not recommended, since the very strong heat can scratch the ceramic, causing the rupture of the object.

Do not clean the objects in ceramics with steel wool pads or abrasive cleaners. It is better to immerse them in warm water with a normal dishwasher detergent. Rinse gently and finally drying.

If the ceramic ashtrays have unfortunately nicotine-stained, dip a cork in the salt and up and rub the stain gently.

To wash the tall and tight pots, pouring warm water with a teaspoon of baking soda and leave to soak for about an hour, or pour a little bit of vinegar with 2 tablespoons of gritty salt, stirring until the base of the pot is not clean.