Abstract
The ware called Taches Noires was developed in Albisola (Liguria, NW Italy) during the 18th century. In just a few years, it spread all over the Mediterranean (Italy, France, Spain, Tunisia, and Greece) and also in the New World (Canada, the Caribbean Islands, and Mexico). The success of the Taches Noires ware was so massive that it was soon copied by Spanish and French workshops. A collection of Catalan imitations and Ligurian imports found in Barcelona were analysed and compared to previously existing data from Barcelona productions, as well as reference samples from Albisola. The study proved the presence of both local imitations and original Albisola imports. The analysis showed a homogeneous product of high technical quality for the Albisola pottery. On the contrary, the local imitations presented a greater diversification in the choice and manipulation of the raw materials, probably related to the existence of different workshops engaged in the manufacturing of these products. Nevertheless, for one of the local groups, ceramists adopted a glaze recipe similar to the one used in Albisola, clearly indicating a direct transfer of knowledge, and possibly of potters, from Albisola to Barcelona.
Highlights
The first evidence of the production of the Taches Noires ware (TNW) in Albisola traces back to the first half of the 18th century in response to the downfall of the Majolica production and competition of the English cream ware [1,2,3]
The paste recipe involved the use of local raw materials, such as red clay and marl, which were mixed in different proportions (2/3 of red clay and 1/3 of marl)
Group TN1 includes the Albisola imports, while the local imitations are classified in two other groups (TN2 and TN3)
Summary
The first evidence of the production of the Taches Noires ware (TNW) in Albisola traces back to the first half of the 18th century in response to the downfall of the Majolica production and competition of the English cream ware [1,2,3]. The TNW is characterized by fine, hard, deep red fabric and brown transparent glazes decorated with wavy black bands (Figure 1). A detailed description of the TNW manufacturing process can be found in the technical report of the Napoleonic Prefect Chabrol de Volvic [5]. The paste recipe involved the use of local raw materials, such as red clay and marl, which were mixed in different proportions (2/3 of red clay and 1/3 of marl).
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