Glass and ceramic art｜Patrizia Margherita｜KnowLedge World Network｜Activities

In Italy when people talk about the Liguria region they think of the sea, the beaches, the flavors of the local cuisine, the fishermen and the small colorful villages with narrow crowded streets of vacationers in the summer but, in the world of applied arts, Liguria is synonym with ceramics and blown glass.
There is a long tradition of craftsmanship in both these arts, characterized by centuries of practice and passion.
Thanks to the red clay present in the area and the white earth quarries scattered around the region, Liguria is known throughout Europe for its kilns, glass art and pottery.

Ceramics are a figurative form of art

Handmade blown glass objects from Liguria

When it comes to pottery, right between the 16th and 17th century the production lived a moment of glory thanks to the diffusion of majolica, white ceramic artwork decorated with cobalt blue designs, usually of naturalistic and figurative nature. At that time Italy was the major ceramic producer and many artworks were exported to Spain.
Back in those times, Italians even opened up a ceramic school in Spain and nowadays Spanish ceramics are almost as famous as the Italian ones.
In the early 20th century the production became even more famous when some of these great Italian artists discovered the expressive and artistic potential of these ceramics and wished to attract attention to the region. Some Ligurian towns came alive when artists, intellectuals, gallerists and writers who started to populate the area to discuss and produce art here. Among these towns we find Albisola, a small fishermen’s village which is now a thriving center for ceramic art hosting a large museum and several art galleries.
In present days there are indeed quite a few ceramic producers and kilns in the area. They make plates, trays, cups, ornaments and vases. It’s very common to give a ceramic object as a gift for a special occasion or to give them as a bomboniera (party favor) for wedding celebrations.
Some ceramics are used as pottery or dishware, others have a mere decorative purpose. Some nativity figurines are also made using this technique and some miniature nativities are made in ceramic.
Most ceramic laboratories are open for classes and they also accept custom made requests.

Typical ceramic vases from Albisola with blue and white motifs

Ceramic miniature nativities

From the Middle Ages the Liguria region has also been artistically recognized thanks to the skills of its craftsmen dedicated to the production of glass of great artistic value, an asset that has made this the center of blown glass in Europe.
There are many theories regarding the origins of this craft and it seems one of the most credible argument attributes the merit to a religious Benedictine community who settled in a monastery here in 1130. The monks became teachers of such art and the success of the industry increasingly gave a great contribution to the economy of the region and increased the popularity of the area.
A group of artisans decided to establish their own School of Glass Art in 1495, an organization that existed until 1823. Subsequently, an Artistic Association for Blow Glass was founded; it’s a cooperative in Italy consisting of over 80 glass masters who got united in the hope of being able to cope with the handicraft crisis which had begun with the start of World War II. The Association opened up an institute for glass art in order to recover the rich artistic and cultural heritage of the local glassmaking tradition.
Luckily for glass art, Italy is a country with many churches so the glassblowers decided to specialize in the production of rose windows.
Nowadays glass production is one of the most important productive and economic resources of the entire region and it represents the excellence of our artisans whose traditions have been handed down from father to child for over a millennium.

Blown glass art from Altare near Savona in Liguria

Ligurian glass art teachers are sought after around the world and they are in great demand, especially overseas. They are moving abroad to teach artists worldwide how to make glass doors and windows, artistic objects and various kinds of containers made by using the hand-blowing technique.
The local heritage is an ancient tradition that can be admired in the Museum of Glass in the little town of Altare, near Savona; the museum is housed in a magnificent Art Nouveau building which enhances the beauty of the artworks collected inside.
The museum is supported by multimedia tools that illustrate all the stages of the processing of blown glass. The venue also offers interactive courses that normally take place during the summer for young adults or anyone who wants to learn this art form. Such classes range from theory to practice in order to teach the basic techniques necessary to realize some blown glass objects.

Some glasses representing Altare’s churches

A custom made glass with my name engraved on it

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