Italian Terracotta Turtle Sculpture

Impruneta Terracotta Turtle statue

Terracotta consists of a clay mixture that is fired at a temperature of 980-990 ° C and has a reddish color thanks to the presence of ferrous substances. Resistant to freezing at -30 ° C, thermal shocks and brackish, with the passage of time it acquires a beautiful appearance on the surface where lichens and mosses can deposit creating different textures and designs, which will make each object an even more exclusive piece and personal. Thanks to these unique characteristics, ITALIAN TERRACOTTA marries perfectly with the most modern concepts of design and architecture, combining refinement and durability, modern design and ancient material.

The working of terracotta in Tuscany, particularly in the Impruneta area, originates with the Etruscan civilization. Its architectural use reached its peak in the Middle Ages and in the Gothic period. Thanks to the strong and warm color, it had the function of emphasizing the architectural lines in contrast with the gray of the stone. In the Renaissance the activity of the furnaces flourished when the Medici and other noble families used to adorn the parks of their villas with vases and statues. Although in the great architecture of the time the infamous Carrara marble was favored for great works, terracotta retains its place of honor and the many palaces of the time are proof of this, one above all Brunelleschi’s Dome of the Florence Cathedral.