Bottega d’arte
“We love creating anything the imagination suggests us”
Bottega d’arte has been founded in August 2000 in the heart of Montalcino from Agnese Andreucci’s passion for ceramics which, in this area, has its deepest roots. In fact, the Etruscans, precisely in Tuscany, made valuable ceramics called “bucchero”. These, over time, have been passed on and developed until creating the precious Sienese, Florentine and Pisan majolica: today known all over the world! Montalcino, like other places in the province of Siena, soon distinguished itself in the tradition of ceramics for its decorative richness and the particular method of firing the bisque. According to this method, before the glazing, the bisque was fired at a temperature that varies between 920° and 1000°.
Bottega d’arte, in its small workshop, combines these ancient techniques of the Sienese potters with modern aspects in order to create original and refined handcraft products. In collaboration with her father (who discovered the art of the ceramics first for fun and then for passion), Agnese: designs, creates and decorates by hand ceramics and porcelain representing anything the imagination suggests her. The subject of her art are not only Tuscan landscapes and floral motifs typical of the area, but also geometric elements with perfect symmetry, that show a different and unusual aspect of the ceramic.
The raw materials used to make the products are high-quality clay, porcelain and gres.
The clay is worked on a lathe or by hand; the porcelain or gres in powder, on the other hand, are carefully mixed with water to create a liquid mixture, which is then poured directly inside the molds.
Each product follows a precise manufacturing process that ends with the creation of unique pieces. Each piece represents the techniques and traditions of the territory in which Bottega d’Arte is located and also the expression of the passion that Agnese and her father have for a profession with a rich charm and an ancient history, that is increasingly being lost.
Production of pottery
We create and decorate unique and refined ceramic items according to the ancient techniques and traditions of Tuscan potters and ceramists.
Each product goes through three phases: the object is first made by lathe or by hand and then let dried; the bisque is fired at about 980°; the product is finally glazed, decorated with colors for food use, sprayed with crystalline and fired at low temperature.
Production of porcelain or gres objects
We create and decorate original and elegant porcelain or gres products according to the ancient techniques and traditions of Tuscan potters and ceramists.
Each product goes through three phases: the dough is first prepared through a meticulous mixture of porcelain or gres in powder and water, the product obtained is then poured into molds and let dried; the bisque is fired at 980°; the object is finally decorated with glazes and colors for food use, and fired at high temperature (1280°).