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The history of ceramic tile in Italy |
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A Short History of Italian Ceramic Tile |
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The use of Italian tile began
in the Middle Age when ceramic tile became a useful
architectural medium for the decoration of walls and floors in religious and
public building.
The tiles, mostly hand decorated majolica, had
their origin as a local handcraft.
The local artisans, in turn borrowed from the
hexagonal terracotta tiles prevalent
in the late Roman Empire, and other medieval decorative tiles.
By then, Islamic and Moresque tiles had also
been introduced to Christian Europe.
Italian majolica handcrafters developed new
styles, adapted from those types,
to fit the changing modes and patterns of interior deco- ration in both
public
and private buildings.
One of the first tile floors designed by a
known artist,
was in the chapel of S. Petronio in Bologna in 1487.
It was designed by Pietro Andrea da Faenza and
the use of
the medium by him quickly became known.
Afterwards tile usage spread rapidly in
religious buildings,
palaces and villas throughout Italy.
In Southern Italy, artistic ceramic first was
used in Sicily, during the Baroque period.
For the first time, tiles were used in the
representation of large biblical and
others historical scenes.
By the beginning of the 19th century, large
decorated scenes were no longer in use.
The artistic and decorative energies of tile
designers and installers become focused
on the use of varying and repeating geometric patterns. Many of the design
concepts
and elements first used in that period remain prevalent today.
After its mass use during the Art Deco Period,
ceramic tile became a product primarily
manufactured in large industrial complexes.
Additionally, because oftechnological advances,
larger and thinner tiles were
manufactured with graeater strenght and endurance.
New manufacturing methods permitted the use of
glazed floor tiles with high
resistance to abrasion.
As the same time, decorative techniques,
including hand decoration and silkscreening,
evolved quite rapidly.
It became virtually impossible to collect or
even catalogue all the new designs.
In the 1980's tiles had become, primarly, a
mass manufactured, industrial product.
Decorative styles had to adapt to the new production methods wich
emphatized
economies of scale. However, the countervailing need for product diversity
continues
to maintain the artisans and artistry that was the core of the origin of the
industry.
The artistically and industrially vibrant tile
industry continues as a source of pride and economic development for the
region and for the country.
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