Bust of Sappho in Terracotta H 41cm

Bust of Sappho in Terracotta from Impruneta

SAFFO

A notorious Greek poetess who presumably lived in the second half of the seventh century BC, Sappho was certainly born on the island of Lesbos in Eresus into an aristocratic family, but her biography proves to be a rather complicated undertaking because of the fictional halo surrounding her. One of the few certain news is that Sappho spends her life in composing verses and dealing with young and aristocratic maidens entrusted to her as pupils of her school. To many of these maidens, Sappho dedicates poems that fuel the belief that the relationship that unites her with her pupils is more than just a teacher-learner relationship. Not surprisingly, she will go down in history as the poetess of love between women, which precisely takes the name “Sapphic.”

THE MATERIAL.

La Terracotta consists of a clay mixture that is fired at a temperature of 980-990° C. The typical reddish color is due to the conspicuous presence of iron substances.

Resistant to frost, heat, thermal changes and brackish, over time it becomes almost a unique element with the surrounding natural environment. In fact, it is not uncommon for lichens and moss to settle on the surface, creating different textures and designs, which will make each object a unique, exclusive and personal piece.

Thanks to these unique characteristics, ITALIAN TERRACOTTA marries perfectly with the most modern concepts of design and architecture, combining refinement and durability, modern design and ancient material.

HISTORY

The working of terracotta in Tuscany, particularly in the Impruneta area, originates with the Etruscan civilization. Its architectural use peaked in the Middle Ages and the Gothic period. Thanks to the strong and warm color, it had the function of emphasizing the architectural lines in contrast with the gray of the stone. In the Renaissance the activity of the furnaces flourished when the Medici and other noble families used to adorn the parks of their villas with vases and statues. Although in the great architecture of the time the infamous Carrara marble was favored for great works, terracotta retains its place of honor and the many palaces of the time are proof of this, one above all Brunelleschi’s Dome of the Florence Cathedral.

In more recent times there has also been a revival of terracotta in the artistic field thanks to leading sculptors. Since ancient times and still today it has always been widely used for vases and other decorative elements, especially if intended for the outdoors, but also for immortal kitchen utensils, especially plates, pans and pots (and in the latter cases it is glazed).