21/07/2008

The new Museum of Ceramics



The new Museum of Ceramics

New exhibition premises for the ceramics of  Montelupo Fiorentino.

 

On 24 May the new Museum of Ceramics has been officially opened in Montelupo Fiorentino.

 

Three floors of exhibition space have been dedicated to the ceramics of this small Tuscany town, given well deserved recognition with the opening of the new museum.

The Museum of Ceramics is organized according to modern museological criterial and houses the numerous finds made since 1973, which have helped to piece together the fundamental phases in the history of the local manufactories.

 

That history began at the end of the 13th century, with the most ancient majolicas decorated in green and brown.

Between the 14th and 15th centuries ceramic art became more refined, drawing inspiration from important Islamic and Hispanic-Moorish traditions and making considerable use of damask, a blue pigment obtained from cobalt hydroxide, for the decoration.

 

Towards the end of the 15th century the old models began to be superseded and the ceramics of Montelupo acquired a distinct style of its own, with realistic decorations depicting complex scenes and an extensive use of polychromy.

Some famous works date to this period, such as the hand basin known as the Montelupo Red.

During the 16th century the great aristocratic Florentine families would order entire dinner services from the craftsmen of Montelupo. The fame of this majolica ware stretched well beyond Tuscany, with orders coming from the European courts as well.

 

The Museum exhibits cover the whole history of ceramics in Montelupo, from its early beginnings to the decline of the industry in the first decades of the 17th century.

Around 5.500 works are on display, 400 of which have never been shown before.

The Museum offers guided tours and educational workshops that can be booked by phone (0571 51352).

 

The Museum of Ceramics is in Piazza Vittorio Veneto 8/10 , at Montelupo Fiorentino.

 It is open from 10am to 6pm and is closed on Mondays.

The entrance fee is € 4 – reduced price € 3.

The web site is http://www.museomontelupo.it