Cotto from Impruneta
The benchmark of construction and interior design
Amongst the excellences of Tuscany handicrafts is the production of terracotta (or, cotto), made by working clay using special techniques then firing in a kiln. The most famous terracotta is from Impruneta, an ancient town south of Florence.
The clay in this area has particular characteristics, being schistose, very rich in iron, highly malleable yet also elastic and resistant.
The material used to make terracotta is extracted in and around Impruneta, particularly Ferrone, Tavarnuzze or Val di Greve.
The tradition of earthenware making has its roots way back in the Middle Ages. Suffice it to say, the dynasties that worked with terracotta date back to the 14ᵗʰ century, resulting in molded and fired clay connoting the landscape, architecture, urban decor and the local economy.
Traditionally, terracotta was used to make vases, basins, crockery, bricks ... Clay workers in Impruneta were specialized in making pots and pitchers, even large ones, to hold oil and wine, as well as the other food and wine products of the area.
Over the centuries, mainly due to the high strength of the raw material, terracotta works went on to cover roofs, adorn gardens, and decorate façades. The terracotta tradition of Impruneta endures to this day, with the artifacts made in the area’s small and large kilns being iconic in construction, furniture and decoration.
