DESCRIPTION

The tradition of majolica boasts ancient origins in Ascoli Piceno, as can be proven by the numerous fragments from the Italic, Roman and early medieval eras, and the creations of the figuli, the artists of majolica who worked in 14th-15th centuries. The pottery of Ascoli Piceno has a long history, characterised by alternating events, but with moments of great splendour. Constantly present in the artistic life and economy of the town, it is definitely documented from the 16th century. Between the 18th-19th centuries majolica benefited from deserved fame. In the monastery of Sant’Angelo Magno the Olivetani monks worked objects of majolica and in 1787 started a factory to develop production better. The factory then passed to the Cappelli brothers from Ascoli and then to the Paci family who came from Porto San Giorgio who took advantage of the contribution of authors such as Adolfo De Carolis and Bruno di Osimo. Both Cappelli and Paci were extremely talented and their pottery was coveted by the nobility of Piceno. After a period of production shutdown due to the an increase in external competition, in 1920 engineer Giuseppe Matricardi restarted the activity with new energy, installing a plant in Campo Parignano. The products were immediately appreciated and were especially well sold in the United States. Nello Giovanili, another talented potter from Castelli, took over the factory which, at the end of World War II, took the name Fabbrica Maioliche Artistiche Ascolane (Ascoli’s factory of artistic pottery). He embraced artists of great value among the workers. When the factory closed in the mid-seventies, these workers opened the numerous shops that today give prestige to Ascoli’s pottery. The product of Ascoli’s artistic pottery, which has both a national and international market, is supported by a lively associationism which protects the quality and ensures product retailing. Today production continues with Ascoli’s factory of artistic pottery and thanks to the work of many hand-crafted factories that are inspired by the past. Ascoli Piceno’ s old historic centre is also animated by goldsmiths' workshops, antique dealers, restorers, blacksmiths, tailors and marble workers; straw manufacturing still lives on, while by now, the old-aged tradition of the paper industry is disused, as confirmed by the recently restored Porta Cartara factory.

In the hamlet of Colle di Arquata del Tronto, the production of coal is still important for local economy. It is a technique which consists of knowing how to turn wood into coal by leaving it burn in a structure which prevents complete combustion.

In the upper valley of the Tronto, in particular in Acquasanta Terme, travertine has beeb manufactured for centuries. This marble characterizes most of Ascoli’s buildings and is now used for furnishing. It isn’t an easy stone to work, but artisans and artists of all ages have been able to create precious decorative elements. Especially in the Middle Ages and in the Renaissance, the magistri de preta were an important reality of the town arts. The long tradition of travertine still goes on in the by now rare artisan shops and thanks to the choice of local sculptors who are conscious of the uniqueness of its history and who do not wish this tradition to die out.