The site Veniceclayartists was originally formed with a collection of ceramic artists from Venice, California. I acquired the expired domain name thinking it was connected to the Italian Venice, as I had a fascination with Mid-Century Italian pottery and Murano Glassware. Either way both Venice’s can boast rich and active artistic communities. I intend to do a feature on the Californian Venice, but today the focus is on the Italian one.
Early history of Venice pottery
Archaelogical excavations have unearthed precious artefacts that date the first appearance of pottery in the Venice lagoon vicinity to the 6th century. Venice was one of the first pottery centres in Italy, the oldest decorated plates found date back to the first half of the 1200′s. The original Venice potteries were concentrated in the area of San Polo and ancient kilns have been found in this location.The first Venetian dishes used two different traditions : Byzantine graffito and Islamic majolica ware.
In 1301 there were already many Venetian potters and they formed a corporation called ” Capitolare dell Arte ” of the ” Scutelari de piera ” This later become known as the Bochaleri and was also traditionally known as the Vasai del Leone ” ( the potters of St. Mark’s Lion ) In the 13th and 14th Centuries, Venetian pottery displayed distinctive geometric plant motifs, either hand painted or scratched using grafitto techniques. At the end of the 1300′s new forms and designs appeared in Venice, such as palmettes, lozenges, birds and animals. Towards the mid 1500′s a more refined style emerged using human figures ( mostly on vases for engagement and wedding gifts ). Also plates decorated with the names and descriptions of local dishes were in vogue. Landscapes and Roman ruins became popular themes in the 16th century for plate decoration.
The potters that migrated to Venice form Marche and Faenza in the 1400′s brought about a revival of the majolica enamel glazes. Many workshops run by artists flourished producing wall plates and other majolica wares depicting historical figures and scenes. The introduction of majolica wares into the Venetian area brought about remarkable changes in the organization of this industry. Majolica (named after the island of Majorca, from where its technique of production was imported to Italy in the thirteenth century) was a much better material for dinner services and offered greater possibilities for decoration than mezza maiolica.
A severe recession n the 1700′s eventually crippled production. In 1773 there were over 30 active potteries, but this was reduced to a few at the end of the century and the Bochaleri Corporation was abandoned. Some of the pottery manufactures that flourished into the 1800′s were Antonibon, Cozzi, and Fiorina Fabris.
Doge Enrico Dandolo crowns Baldwin I (Baudoin), Emperor of Byzantium (1204-1205)
Museo Correr, Venice, Italy
San Polo butterfly plate
Murano Ceramic Vase
Kutahya Plate Flowers – San Lazzaro, Venice
3 pieces from Dolcetti – ( twicemodern.wordpress.com )
Giacomo Dolcetti was born in Venice in 1893 and he established his ceramics studio there in 1921 which he called “The Potter’s House”.
Cozzi Pottery pitcher - Venice 1775
Ceramic Figurine – Jo Ponti
Venice
photo – Carla Coulson
Cantagalli winged lion – Italan pottery, Venice
Crisaliforme by Cristiano Bianchin, Murano
Lilac Africanist Murano Glass sculpture – 60′s
Glass Beaker – Venice,late 15th century
( V & A Musuem )
17th Century Venezia vessel for herb storage
The Minuet or Carnivale Scene 1754 – 55
Giandomenico Tiepolo
( Musee Du Lourve )
St. Marks facade
Venice, Italy
Veduta del Palazzo Ducale
Canaletto
Venetian Lion
Carlos Marchiori
Italian Pottery – Painted Bowl, San Polo Venice
Venetian Pitcher
Venetian Goblet – 1500
( V & A Museum )
San Polo dish
San polo harlequin figurine
Murano Glass
Murano glass owls
Calcedonio glass jug
1500-1525
Murano glass vase
2012
Venice & Murano Glass & Mosaic 1872
( V & A Museum )
Salviati Murano Orione Vases by Rhegis Doe
Salviati vase – Venice 1868
Salviati Vase – Venice 1868
( V & A Museum )
Salviati Murano Rigati Glass jug
Carnevale Di Venezia
The famous Carnevale Di Venezia has a traditon that dates back over a thousand years to 1094 where carnivale festivities as public entertainment in the days leading up to Lent were decreed by the Government of the Doge Vitale Falier. The carnivale lasted for over a month up to Ash Wedensday and the Venetians celebrated wearing masks and colourful costumes. The beginning of the carnivale starts with special traditional celebrations such as the warrior dance of the ” Morescoa” and the “Svolo del Turco ” ( flight of the Turk ), which is a dangerous stunt.
Venezia Carnevale
Venice carnivale
Svolo del Turco
“The Flight of the Angel” from the tower of St Mark’s Campanile Bianca Brandolini D’Adda
( www.ilreporter.com )
Carnavale mask
Venice Italy carnivale
( alessandro 1948 - flickr )
Sources cited : http://www.venicethefuture.com
Venetian Art is a post from: Ceramics & Pottery Arts & Resources
The Original Post is Located Here: Venetian Art