| The production of ceramics in Puglia is ancient yet still thriving, also thanks to the rich quarries of red clay found in this territory.
The hub of ceramics production is Grottaglie, in the province of Taranto. In the heart of this characteristic city, behind the medieval castle, lies a centuries-old quarter of ceramicists who, having excavated their workshops and kilns in the rock, developed their trade by following age-old working methods. There are two main products of the Grottaglie figurine tradition: the "Bianchi di Grottaglie" - or "white" artistic production that exalts pure form through the use of white stanniferous glaze with no other decoration and typical of a more elite production, and the more characteristic rustic and popular ceramics flaunting a palette of colours that ranges from green, ochre, blue, and manganese. The famous capasoni (from 'capase', or capable) are part of this production, with containers of considerable sizes mouled in distinct sections and then joined together. These pieces are generally destined to contain wine.
As of today, Grottaglie, with its numerous ceramics workshops, is the only town in Puglia to be protected by the D.O.C. seal and included in the limited list of 28 Italian cities of ceramics. |