Seriously handmade – ND Dolfi, Tuscany

It does not matter that you like its style, really. What you cannot help is admiring their stunning craftsmanship and wishing to touch it.

Yes, ND Dolfi’s pottery never goes unnoticed. It is a feast for the senses and a superb example of what traditional techniques, experience, passion and eyes wide open on the world can do.

The Dolfi family has been making pottery since 1941. Silvano Dolfi, father of Natalia and Daria, founded his own company in 1994. He did not take long to build a fine International reputation for himself as an artist and for his company.

His daughters have inherited his talents. Together, now that he is no longer with us, they design and hand craft large vases, bowls, tiles, lamps and gorgeous home décor accents. A collection that year after year gets richer and richer of vibrant glazes, bold color combinations and new textures.

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Montelupo Museum of Ceramics – Spring Program

The Museum of Ceramics is offering Italian ceramics lovers the chance to learn more about Montelupo pottery through a number of guided visits.

On April 10th, in the morning, an experienced guide will introduce visitors to the Museum’s collection of apothecary jars and other objects made for old pharmacies.

Montelupo apothecary pottery was an important element in the proliferation of pharmacies in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany during the Renaissance. Placed in the monasteries’ infirmaries at first, then popular as private businesses, the pharmacies flourished also thanks to the availability of safe storage vessels for the herbs.

Ceramic was an excellent material because it can hold and preserve both liquids and dried herbs and it’s easy to clean. The apothecary jars and vases from Montelupo had an additional benefit: they impressed the customers with their beauty and perfectly fit the monumental style of the rooms that were open to the public.

Soon after the visit to the Musem, the visitors will go to Florence to visit one of the oldest pharmacies in the world: Farmacia di Santa Maria Novella. Established by the Dominican fathers shortly after 1221, the pharmacy was meant to prepare and store medications, balms and creams for the monastery’s little infirmary. In 1612 the Dominicans were granted permission to open their little store to the public. Visiting the Farmacia is per se a great opportunity. Even more so, if the focus is on its awesome collection of antique apothecary pottery.

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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.

Tuscan pottery and more

Are you planning to visit Tuscany? Tuscan pottery, arts and crafts are one of the reasons you go there?

Then you’ll love the project Collezioni Toscane, sponsored by the regional government.

It features a directory of 300 studios (botteghe) and artisans who make traditional hand made goods in Tuscany. Places where breathtaking objects are made out of gold, semi precious stones, silver, scagliola, clay, leather and paper.

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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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