The spirit of art and creativity, the close connection of the past and the present still prevail in the Italian city of Faenza - the center of pottery, the birthplace of faience. In the sixteenth century, the Faenians started talking about pottery technology and craftsmanship throughout Europe. In the Renaissance, the compendio style, interesting white decors became famous throughout Europe. Products outside Italy began to be called "faiences" - faience.
Earthenware dishes, along with porcelain, pottery, majolica, terracotta, belong to the category of ceramic dishes, characterized by simplicity and originality of forms. This type of ceramic is made using
white glaze, decorated with metal oxides.
Earthenware dishes included items from ceramics of all kinds: jewelry, plates, tiles and much more. It ranged from the most basic household items of white color, without decorations and relief, to works of art. Its popularity has reached even China and Japan. A lot of porcelain and faience manufactures appeared in Britain, France, the Netherlands, Russia and other countries. Few people have heard about Iranian products with color painting on cream glaze, blue ceramics from Delft, simple everyday earthenware dishes and other products from Gouda, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, about Gzhel art ceramics. Even today, Delft and Gzhel are considered a paradise for lovers of original ceramics.
The characteristic features of artistic faience are the generalization of forms, softness of lines, and a variety of decoration methods. These are reliefs, painting, colored glaze. Since the 18th century, high-quality faience products began to be produced in Europe. Each country had its own characteristics in the technology of their production. For example, in France, earthenware dishes and other products were produced with blue or multi-color cobalt underglaze painting.
Today faience is considered a symbol of established life and everyday life. Earthenware ware attracts with its simplicity, beauty, elegance. Of course, porcelain products are more sophisticated and delicate, light and transparent. Products from faience are made of siliceous clay, they are more durable and heavy, but they are less heat resistant and mechanical strength. When tapped, they make a dull sound, while porcelain dishes are crisp and clear. Lately porous non-translucent faience ware has often only been covered with colorless glaze; it is decorated not with a drawing, but with modeling. But widespread and drawings of any color - from blue and blue to black. Earthenware dishes look simpler than porcelain, but more functional. It can often be seen in everyday kitchen. The embossed surface, colored glaze, the original shape of earthenware products give the kitchen a cosiness.
Variants of use, quality and decoration of dishes largely depend on the characteristics of a particular enterprise. Such dishes are widely used in small restaurants, small city cafes, bars, coffee houses. Dishes for a cafe should correspond to a single style of interior and give the institution an individual character. The use of exclusive products with a mandatory
brand name is often recommended
. Used dishes for the bar are selected in a single style from plates and cups to salt shakers.
Modern forms of earthenware dishes are distinguished by originality, simplicity, and high hygiene. It often does not have sharp corners, often the plates have a square shape, which is very convenient when storing them.
Earthenware dishes need some care. It should not be washed with very hot water. To do this, it is better to use warm water, and rinse with cold. It must not be placed on drying boards, as frosting may crack. If the dishes from faience have darkened, you need to wipe it with salt, drinking soda, vinegar, tartaric acid, which will return to its original well-groomed appearance. Stains are removed with warm water with the addition of a small amount of ammonia.