Bucchero

Bucchero, a type of ceramic destinguished by a shiny jet black body, is continued to be made as it has in centuries past. The transformation from clay to a black onyx color comes about by the firing in the kiln void of any oxygen. The production of bucchero in Gubbio was introduced by Polidoro Benveduti in 1928.

Benveduti carried on the traditional Etruscan design. The throwing of the clay, the drying process and the rubbing of the dried piece before the firing are the first phases of this type of elaboration of bucchero: the semi dried piece undergoes a smoothing out with steel wool which is then rubbed with a wooden instrument until a fine shine appears.

Firms producing

• > La Fornace del Bucchero

On the spot

• > Bucchero Vase

Some pieces are then embellished with designs etched into the unfired piece. The design is then highlighted in gold or platinum.

The end process is the final firing in which the piece is immersed in wood coals and undergoes a firing with temperatures higher than 900 degrees Celsius. This results in a product that is precious and unique.