Artisan Terracotta and its production

The techniques of production of handmade terracotta are not many, nor at first glance they appear complex: the process of creating terracotta bricks, tiles, terracotta ceilings, pool edges, elements for outdoor and indoor flooring is in fact made more of small details then of large differences.

To better understand what the handcrafted terracotta is and how it is produced, for example, we can think that the high quality clays that are used come mostly from Central Italy, where there are quarries from which is extracted material that is millions years old.

The process of working with extracted clay shows that, after a first selection, clays are subjected to a more thorough examination, which aims to recognize and eliminate any impurities and to refine the material to be processed. In high quality handcrafting, this process is carried out literally pulverizing the clay and then making it the most uniform and homogeneous as possible.

At this point, in a process that fully respects the traditional way of working, the clay is left outdoors to dry: the whole drying process can take up to 15 months, during which the material is tempered.

At this point the crude material is ready to be worked, and it already has a particular coloration that can be more or less emphasized. To begin working on the finished product, and then on the desired piece in handmade terracotta, it should be created with a mixture of water and clay: the elements used are simple and natural, but it is in this part of the process that is most of the success of the product, which varies depending on the timing of processing and on many other details that only a true kilnsman master can take care.

Worked up to obtain a smooth dough, the dough is hand-pressed in special “containers” that serve to give the desired shape, and then the product is left to temper, leaving it to rest for a period ranging between 15 and 30 days .

At this point, when it is completely dried, the product is put in the oven for cooking, at about 1000 °. At this point a real handmade terracotta company that focuses on quality of the product knows that there is another step: a further selection of freshly baked hand-made terracotta, which is then “skimmed” and finally packed.

Only after this long process, the consumer can admire handmade terracotta elements that are different one another in a thousand little nuances that give all the deserved value to this product that is eco-friendly and really beautiful and warm.