From Vietri majolica to Capodimonte porcelain, ceramics run deep in Campania. Some Naples workshops open their doors to beginners: here’s how to join.
Campania has a ceramics tradition going back thousands of years. The majolica (tin-glazed pottery) of Vietri sul Mare, the porcelain of Capodimonte, the terracotta of the coast: each area has its own style, techniques and motifs. In Naples this tradition lives on in a network of artisan workshops scattered between the old town and the outskirts.
Capodimonte porcelain
The Real Fabbrica di Capodimonte, the royal porcelain factory, was founded in 1743 by Charles of Bourbon, who wanted to rival Meissen porcelain. The hallmarks of Capodimonte porcelain, its whiteness, floral reliefs and mythological figures, are recognised worldwide. Some masters still hand down these techniques today in workshops open to the public.
What you learn in a ceramics workshop:
- Throwing on an electric wheel
- Hand-building (pinch pots, coils, slabs)
- Decorating with oxides and glazes
- The basics of firing in gas and wood kilns
- The history of Campanian ceramics
Where to find workshops
In the old town, around via San Gregorio Armeno, the famous street of nativity-scene makers, several workshops open their doors for courses and classes. Some focus on the presepe (nativity scene) tradition, others teach majolica work with the typical coloured glazes.
Take home a one-off piece
The best part of a workshop is that at the end you take home the piece you made, once it’s been fired. There’s something deeply satisfying about getting home knowing there’s a mug, a plate or a vase on your shelf that you made with your own hands in a Neapolitan workshop.
“Clay doesn’t lie. If you’re distracted, the pot collapses. If you’re present, something beautiful emerges. It’s the most honest lesson I’ve ever had.”
- ceramics
- workshops
- crafts
- capodimonte
- workshop
Who wrote this
Gianluca Scanni
Founder @ Cose Fighe
