Pair of hand-painted vases in Ceramica di Castelli, made in the 1950s

Ø cm 16 h cm 23

The ceramics of Castelli represent one of the excellences of Italian artistic craftsmanship, with a centuries-old tradition that dates back to the 16th century. 
Castelli, a small village in the province of Teramo, in Abruzzo, is the center of production of these ceramics.
The ceramic tradition of Castelli reached its peak in the 17th and 18th centuries, when local workshops produced works of the highest quality for the European courts.
Families of ceramicists such as the Grue, the Cappelletti, and the Gentili have contributed to making the ceramics of Castelli famous.

The ceramics of Castelli are characterized by elaborate and vibrant decorations, ranging from floral and landscape motifs to mythological and religious scenes.
The technique used is that of majolica, with stanniferous glazes that give the ceramics a bright and luminous appearance.
Among the most recurring subjects are the "istoriate," which depict complex narrative scenes, and the "faenzare," with decorations inspired by the ceramics of Faenza.

The ceramics of Castelli are present in important museums around the world, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the British Museum in London, and the Hermitage in St. Petersburg.
The ceramic tradition of Castelli is still alive today, thanks to the work of numerous local artisans who continue to produce high-quality works.