In Pesaro, an exhibition that tells the story of the city's great ceramic tradition
Casa Bucci hosts a tribute to the ancient history of ceramic production in the Marche city, through vases, amphorae, and plates produced by the Molaroni family over almost a century and a half of activity.
Molaroni Ceramics, Jewelry Box, round box with polychrome motifs and black background, detail. Photo Michele Alberto Sereni
To understand the longevity of ceramic art in Pesaro, where the first terracotta productions are believed to date back to Roman times, one must look at the territory: the banks of the Foglia river, which flowed beneath the city walls, provided abundant clay for the production of tableware and furnishings.
The history of the Molaroni manufacture
The Molaroni family's manufacture established itself, between the 19th and 20th centuries, as one of the most important in the Adriatic area, interpreting the tradition of Italian Renaissance majolica through mass production, entirely hand-decorated, which received awards at major national and international exhibitions. Assisted by skilled craftsmen and using specially created colors, Vincenzo Molaroni proposed, in fact, decorations that became famous for their refinement, such as the Istoriato, Grotesques, Liberty, and other pictorial motifs of his own invention, including the Raffaellesco blu. Later, the furnace would develop further themes, always inspired by the city's history, with the 18th-century rose and daisy, but also experimenting with new solutions, such as the polychrome, a collection of unprecedented floral ornaments.
Majolica with blue background decorated in "oriental flower" style. Photo Michele Alberto Sereni