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Agalis Manessi
Agalis Manessi creates charming majolica ceramic animals and figurines, drawing influences and inspiration from a diverse range of sources. Referencing Renaissance frescos through to Fauvist painters, she strives for poetic simplicity, an expressive representation that belies the difficulty of her process. Each animal and figurinee Agalis creates has an animated nature all its own. With an emphasis on craftsmanship, her work is at the forefront of Majolica ceramic art.
Maker's Story
Agalis Manessi creates charming majolica ceramic animals and figurines, drawing influences and inspiration from a diverse range of sources. Referencing Renaissance frescos through to Fauvist painters, she strives for poetic simplicity, an expressive representation that belies the difficulty of her process. Each animal and figurine Agalis creates has an animated nature all of its own. With an emphasis on craftsmanship, her work is at the forefront of Majolica ceramic art.
Maker's Quote
Majolica is produced using a tin glaze. Before firing I paint on metal oxides and under-glaze colours. The true colours show only after firing, so whilst painting I'm not sure of the exact outcome. There are a lot of surprises in this work. It is quite challenging, but has its own poetic beauty.
Ceramicist
The Process
Developed over 500 hundred years ago, Majolica involves dipping red terracotta clay in earthenware glaze and tin oxide, creating an opaque white surface. The glaze is then painted with metal oxides, brilliantly showcasing the colours when fired.
The Process