Bucchero: the black terracotta of the Etruscans

Bucchero: the black terracotta of the Etruscans

Bucchero: the black terracotta of the Etruscans 1400 1049 Krei

Bucchero, a particular evenly black terracotta used by the Etruscans from the 7th century B.C. to the first half of the 5th century B.C., is today capable of interpreting a contemporary vision.

It is a particular clay cooked in the oven in the absence of oxygen, which lets itself be shaped by an ancient manual skill, becoming the expression of a strong decorative ability. In a set of experience, tradition but also research, technology and experimentation, Bucchero is proposed as an innovative product in the floor and wall version.
Exploring the world of marble, terracotta, continuous surfaces and mosaics, Krei highlights the infinite possibilities of new trendy materials in the world of architecture. Bucchero is among them.

Where does the unique character of Bucchero come from?


The word Bucchero comes from the Portouguese word “bucàro” which means “fragrant earth”, with a particular reference to the reddish soil used in Spain and Portugal to make vases of great artistic value.

In an architectural project aimed at enhancing the home or commercial environment, though the selection of the material that can best interpret the soul of the places, bucchero fascinates with its powerful aesthetics. To best match it in interior design, we must be able to play with the right nuances, those that allow the environment not to appear too dark or to lose that allure that black, better than anyone else, can give.

The natural colour of the Bucchero, from black to gray combined with the various finishes and the artisan moulding of the real handmade terracotta, gives an ecological brick, unique in tone and shape, singular in the method of construction, with a precious and timeless final effect.

What are the best uses of Bucchero in design?

n addition to floors and walls, Krei has selected Bucchero as the material choice for a new line of furnishing accessories called “informe” (shapeless).

Unique pieces, where the material is extracted from the «rain deposits», i.e. the large puddles of rainwater where Etruscan clays naturally mix. With the latter it gives shape to abstract reliefs and compositions that refer to mysterious, deposed and now renewed functions, almost relics taken from a civilization that claims its persistence now in the form of a mask, now a shield, now an altar.

vaso in bucchero

The black technique on the type of Etruscan Bucchero is a magic technique which consists in cooking objects immersed in coal, in a reducing atmosphere, i.e. without oxygen, a process which allows to obtain black coloured pieces, which strongly show the essence of the material.

vaso in bucchero

Bucchero is characterized by an ancient skill. It is worked with traditional techniques which are modeling by hand, on the lathe and by casting, through phases such as forging, drying and burnishing. Last step, cooking, which takes place in special ovens at a temperature above 900° with an oxygen-free atmosphere in such a way that the combustion of the wood creates carbon monoxide and, combined with the red ferric oxide of the clay, transforms it giving that typical dark colour. The spirit of contemporary research leads to experimenting with new production methods by modeling unique objects in the characteristic total black of Bucchero.

vaso in bucchero

The furnishing accessories of the “informe” line proposed by Krei are designed for customers who love design and artistic craftsmanship in search of original objects, in some ways unique and unrepeatable.

If you would like more information and receive free and personalized advice, contact us on 0761 1791060 or fill out the form below.
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