Your Christmas Travel Guide to Italian Pottery Events: Tuscan Pottery and Textiles

Nov. 20, 2010 – Feb. 28, 2011
Prato – Italy

Italian Ceramics - Tuscan Pottery and Textiles - Photo credits: www.museodeltessuto.itA dialogue between Tuscan arts during the Renaissance. This is the subtitle of this unusual exhibition, stemming from the joint efforts of the Textile Museum in Prato and the Museum of Ceramics in Montelupo Fiorentino.

From the Middle Ages to the Renaissance these two arts represented a major source of income for the area between Florence and Prato, in Western Tuscany, the outstanding quality of their artifacts, their creative excellence and exquisite taste being the key reasons for their popularity.

Interestingly, the pottery made in Montelupo from the 14th to the 16th century shows a certain resemblance to the patterns of silk textile designed in the same period of time. This is indeed the main theme of the exhibition, that compares the two arts from the point of view of designs and common cultural models and highlights their similarities.

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Ancient Ceramic Artifact Found near Montelupo

lastramontelupowebArchaeologists working in the area of Montelupo Fiorentino report a new find. It’s a remarkable ceramic plaque, a full relief featuring the head of a veiled woman, believed to date back about 2500 years.

The artifact is made of terracotta. The woman is wearing earrings and a necklace. Her hair is pinned on her head. She is surrounded by acanthus leaves.

The plaque was probably part of the fronton of a temple or of its sloping roofs. The archaeologists found it on the bottom of a 7.5 mt deep water pit, on a layer of gravel and accurately covered with stones. The setting of the plaque has prompted the assumption that the woman, possibly a Goddess, was laid there to protect the water of the pit.

The quality of the artifacts and its exceptional preservation make it a valuable addition to the Museum of Archaeology in Montelupo. One more reason, if necessary, to visit this beautiful spot of Tuscany, worldwide famous for its handmade Tuscan pottery.

2009 International Ceramic Festival in Montelupo – Tuscany

June 20-28, 2009
Montelupo – Italy

2009 International Ceramic Festival of Montelupo

Hard to believe… the 2009 edition of the International Ceramic Festival seems even more interesting than the 2008 one, when the Regional Museum of Ceramics had just been re-opened and the city blew the candles on the 25th birthday of its School of Ceramics.

This year the focus will be on modern ceramic art with the grand opening of the first department of the Museum of Contemporary Ceramic Art and Nanni Valentini’s retrospective exhibition – separate articles will soon be published on these key events.

Together with Nanni Valentini, other established artists will be honored with solo or collective exhibitions. As an encouragement to the younger generations and their experimental vision of ceramic art, the municipality has sponsored the production of many installations made by young artists and placed all over the town.

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International Ceramic Festival in Montelupo – Tuscany

June 21-29, 2008
Montelupo – Italy

Tuscan ceramics - International Ceramic Festival in MontelupoMontelupo is a charming Medieval city built on a hill, a few miles east of Florence.
That was about it, until a team of archeologists discovered an old well full of kiln shards in 1973.

Tuscan ceramics - Pozzo dei Lavatoi - MontelupoThe unexpected discovery shed new light on the role of Montelupo in the history of Tuscan ceramics. It’s now a well-established fact that the town was one of the most important ceramic centers in Italy during the Renaissance and the production area of all the Florentine pottery.

The pride of such a splendid heritage revived the art of pottery making and had a positive impact on the local economic development.
Today Montelupo is a flourishing town, rich with historical buildings, talented potters and an awesome Museum of Ceramics.

To celebrate the glory of the past and today’s pottery art and craft an International Ceramic Festival is organized every year in the streets of the old historic district of Montelupo.

In a few weeks, from June 21st, performances, activities, art demos, exhibitions and young artists’ installations will definitely change the look of the town.

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