Faenza, Italy - Emilia-Romagna Region

When visiting Italy specifically to study ceramics/majolica, Faenza should be the starting point. This robust town is much more of an academic study of the craft and art of Italian ceramics than it is a production and retail town. (Production and retail do occur here, but not to the commercial extent of other towns.)

Faenza developed a ceramics industry, which dates back to the middle ages, because of the abundant local clay and the town's geographical location. The town became a crossroads between the cultures of the Emilia Romagna and Tuscany regions. Early on Faenza developed commercial and cultural ties with Ravenna, Rome and Florence. The Manfredi family, dynastic leaders of Faenza during renaissance times, had very close family ties to the Medicis of Florence; thus cultural influences from the seat of Italian art was strongly upheld in renaissance Faenza.

Numerous ceramics artists of Faenza have revived a tradition of the historical designs. Ente Ceramica Faenza is an organization, founded in 1977, whose primary intention is to encourage local ceramists to adhere to traditional design and finesse.Through it's many sponsered exhibitions and sales venues, quality control of the handicraft is insured.

Faenza is home to the International Museum of Ceramics which houses the most comprehensive collection of historical majolica in Italy. Though the museum houses collections from outside Italy and outside the majolica realm, and it sponsers contemporary ceramics exhibitions, the images presented here will focus primarily on the Italian majolica. Founded in 1908 by Gaetano Ballardini, a 19th century Majolica scholar, the museum is well organized and the work is documented and authenticated. The museum also has a restoration section and strong educational programs.