If you have ever seen brightly glazed pottery covered in gorgeous patterns you know how beautiful ceramic pieces can be. Chances are, if the colors were bright and featured images such as animals, fruit or flowers there is a strong possibility it was Italian pottery. It has a distinctive color scheme and decorating style that is both recognizable and appealing and it is no wonder that so many people choose to have these items in their homes.
Pottery and ceramics have been made for thousands of years. Clay is molded into a variety of different shapes and is painted with glaze. When it is heated for an extended period of time the glaze will form a hard, durable coating which makes the piece waterproof as well as beautiful to look at. Some pieces can be quite delicate and intricate so it is no wonder that they are considered art as well as something that is functional.
Many cultures create pottery and styles can be distinctive enough that knowledgeable individuals can tell where a piece was made just by looking at it. Certain patterns, color schemes or firing techniques may only be used in certain geographic areas.
One thing that makes pottery from Italy so recognizable is the bright color schemes that are used. Some pieces that originate from other parts of the world may use pale, diluted colors but Italian items tend to be much more strongly colored. Yellow is a popular color and is used as both an accent color and a background color depending on the decorating scheme.
Some collectors choose to feature a specific region or village in their collections. A collection of Tuscan pieces may look very different than one that features only pottery items that were made in Umbria or Abruzzo. If you are considering starting your collection in this way it may be worthwhile to read up a bit on each area and look at pictures of the items created there so that you know which appeal to you most.
Some individuals may want to add strongly colored items to their collections but may not know how to do so without making the collection compete with items around it. If you are concerned about that, look for pieces that are colored to compliment your other decorative elements. For example, pulling an accent color out of a small decorative element will help keep your collection looking like it was always meant to be there.
If authenticity is something that is important to you then building your collection may involve more research than if you simply want the look. Many pieces are being imported from Asia or other areas rather than coming directly from Italy. You may want to make sure you are dealing with reputable websites when shopping for pottery items.
Once you have your collection started don't be afraid to actually use the pieces you own. Just make sure that you find out any special care instructions that might be needed so that your items will look just as good years from now as they did on the day you bought them.
Pottery and ceramics have been made for thousands of years. Clay is molded into a variety of different shapes and is painted with glaze. When it is heated for an extended period of time the glaze will form a hard, durable coating which makes the piece waterproof as well as beautiful to look at. Some pieces can be quite delicate and intricate so it is no wonder that they are considered art as well as something that is functional.
Many cultures create pottery and styles can be distinctive enough that knowledgeable individuals can tell where a piece was made just by looking at it. Certain patterns, color schemes or firing techniques may only be used in certain geographic areas.
One thing that makes pottery from Italy so recognizable is the bright color schemes that are used. Some pieces that originate from other parts of the world may use pale, diluted colors but Italian items tend to be much more strongly colored. Yellow is a popular color and is used as both an accent color and a background color depending on the decorating scheme.
Some collectors choose to feature a specific region or village in their collections. A collection of Tuscan pieces may look very different than one that features only pottery items that were made in Umbria or Abruzzo. If you are considering starting your collection in this way it may be worthwhile to read up a bit on each area and look at pictures of the items created there so that you know which appeal to you most.
Some individuals may want to add strongly colored items to their collections but may not know how to do so without making the collection compete with items around it. If you are concerned about that, look for pieces that are colored to compliment your other decorative elements. For example, pulling an accent color out of a small decorative element will help keep your collection looking like it was always meant to be there.
If authenticity is something that is important to you then building your collection may involve more research than if you simply want the look. Many pieces are being imported from Asia or other areas rather than coming directly from Italy. You may want to make sure you are dealing with reputable websites when shopping for pottery items.
Once you have your collection started don't be afraid to actually use the pieces you own. Just make sure that you find out any special care instructions that might be needed so that your items will look just as good years from now as they did on the day you bought them.
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You can get a detailed list of the things to keep in mind when purchasing Italian pottery at http://www.intradaitaly.com right now.
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