This ceramic technique arrived in the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea through the Arab dominions of the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages. Sicily and Tuscany were the regions where the first artefacts made with this technique by Arab artisans arrived (between the 10th and 11th centuries). The term “maiolica” itself derives from Mallorca, the island from which the ships transporting these artefacts to the port of Pisa left.
The decoration process consists in applying colours with a brush on a thin layer of still raw glaze, a very delicate surface on which You must paint with delicacy and attention. This two-hour workshop will allow You to understand all the charm of this technique and the great expertise it requires.
During the lesson You will be able to decorate a 15 x15 cm tile. You can choose whether to make your own drawing or follow a model provided by the teacher. The teacher will show You how to prepare the terracotta tile, how to apply the glaze on it, how to transfer the design and finally how to apply the colours.
The artefacts will then be fired in a furnace at a temperature of 940°.
The firing of the objects will take place within two months of the lesson (depending on the quantity of pieces needed to fill the kiln).
There is the possibility of receiving the finished pieces at home with a small surcharge for shipping.