Lodi ceramics

[1][2] These furnaces must have been capable of producing high quality ceramics, given the importance of some orders,such as that for the House of Gonzaga in 1526[5] and that by Cardinal Federico Borromeo in 1623.

[1][2][5] Following the war of the Spanish Succession, at the beginning of the 18th century the territory of Lodi was annexed, with the Duchy of Milan, to the realm of the House of Habsburg of Austria.

[1][2] Ceramics workers and artists, as well as products, were found in northern and central Italy, in particular in Bassano, the Modena area and Sassuolo, Piedmont and Pesaro.

[1][2] In 1796, the battle of Lodi between Napoleon Bonaparte and the Austrian troops marked the decline of ceramic production in Lodi, due both to the material damage suffered by the Ferretti factory located near the battleground by the Adda river, and to the economic decline during the period of the Napoleonic wars and the following restoration.

After a period of success witnessed by exports to Ireland and Scotland and by the purchase of some ceramics by the House of Savoy, the furnace closed at the end of the 19th century.

Strong shades of orange or manganese brown were often used instead [8] In the second half of the 18th century the technique of third fire – piccolo fuoco, also known as overglaze decoration, was introduced, which made it possible to obtain a greater range of more vibrant colours.

[8][9] The first European factory where the piccolo fuoco technique was developed was that of Paul Hannong in Strasbourg.

[8][9] Antonio Ferretti was one of the first artisans to introduce this technique in Italy[9] The Coppellotti factory was active from 1641 to the end of the 18th century; the best ceramics date back to the period 1735-1740 and were produced with the gran fuoco technique: plates, centerpieces, teapots, coffeemakers, sugar bowls.

[7] There are also many other original polychrome decorations representing fruit, fish, landscapes, castles, peasants, wayfarers, music players, oriental figures, accompanied by animals, such as birds and dogs [7] The Rossetti factory was active in Lodi between 1729 and 1736.

[12] Some ceramics feature landscapes in the center, with views of cities and castles, hills, lakes, clouds and birds.

The best known decoration of the Ferretti ceramics is the one with naturalistic flowers, with very bright and lively colours, which could be obtained thanks to the piccolo fuoco technique.