Faenza, a new section dedicated to Art Nouveau and Deco opens at the Museum of Ceramics

Doors open today at the International Museum of Ceramics (MIC) in Faenza for the new section devoted to European ceramics between Art Nouveau and Deco, a journey through art and design from the early 20th century to the 1940s. With an itinerary displaying 600 works divided into 14 thematic areas, the MIC returns to the public 160 pieces that have remained in the museum’s storerooms for more than eighty years, six of which have been restored for the occasion.

The new display, curated by Claudia Casali, aims to tell the story of European ceramics and decorative arts of the early 20th century, highlighting the dialogue between artistic innovation, manufacturing techniques and historical contexts.

“For this new thematic display,” Claudia Casali comments, “we started from the history of the Faenza Museum, through its acquisitions, the 1926 displays that were already complete and designed in a modern key, and the international relationships that then-director Ballardini had woven and fortified during the years of his tenure. Then the existing materials were analyzed, supplementing some of them with an exceptional restoration campaign that brought to light artifacts damaged during the May 1944 bombing.”

A journey through sinuosity and stylization

The path winds through fourteen thematic areas that explore the many styles and influences of the period: from the soft, natural lines of Art Nouveau, with its celebration of the female figure, to the stylized and exotic forms of Deco. There is no shortage of references to Futurism and the contribution of the Cenacolo Baccariniano, paying homage to the art of Domenico Baccarini, a key figure in the birth of the MIC.

Prominent among the works on display are masterpieces by such celebrated manufactures as Villeroy & Boch of Dresden, Sèvres, and Zsolnay of Pécs, and Dutch faiencers such as Distel and Delft. No less important are the productions of the Imperial Manufacture in St. Petersburg and Nordic factories such as Alumina and Bing & Grøndahl in Copenhagen.

The project not only showcases unique pieces, but also reconstructs thecultural context of the time. Ample space is given to the role of the great universal exhibitions and the Monza Biennials, places where European art and ceramics dialogued in innovative ways. The MIC itself, founded in 1908, owes its origins to the Esposizione Torricelliana in Faenza, where artists such as Galileo Chini and Marcello Dudovich contributed to the birth of the first nucleus of the museum collection.

Digital innovation for an immersive experience

The new exhibit also marks a step forward in accessibility and museum education, thanks to the installation of twelve multimedia touch screen stations. These interactive devices allow visitors to learn more about the historical, social, and artistic context of the works on display, offering curiosities and connections to the period.

Implemented with the contribution of the European Regional Development Fund(ERDF), the project aims to make the museum experience more engaging and modern, in line with the needs of contemporary audiences.

To celebrate the opening of the new section, MIC is organizing two guided tours, Sunday, December 8 and 15 at 3:30 p.m., included in the ticket price. Reservations are required and are a unique opportunity to discover the works through expert narration.

The MIC’s new section not only unearths extraordinary works, but also testifies to the richness of the heritage preserved in the museum’s storerooms. Thanks to careful restoration and research, the public can now admire pieces that represent milestones in the history of European ceramics.

The museum opens Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed on non-holiday Mondays, December 25 and January 1. Info and reservations: 0546 697311, info@micfaenza.org, www.micfaenza.org

Faenza, a new section dedicated to Art Nouveau and Deco opens at the Museum of Ceramics

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