03/09/2025
It was in the 16th century that Caltagirone ceramics — already produced during the Muslim domination of Sicily, thanks to the presence of numerous clay pits — spread throughout the island.
Before then, three ceramic guilds were already active in Caltagirone, each specializing in a specific type of work. The "stazzonari," also known as "ciaramitari," were responsible for the production of tiles and bricks; the "quartarari" molded brocades for the storage of water (quartare, bummuli, and 'nziri); and the "cannatari" produced terracotta pottery and other ceramics.
Today, in a Sicily that traditionally rejects associations, the future of the production of Caltagirone ceramics relies on the recent establishment of the "Association of Ceramic Producers of Caltagirone."
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