Museums - Sesto Fiorentino

The Sesto Ceramics Archive

Production of ceramics has played a crucial part in Sesto Fiorentino history and economy in the last three centuries. As a consequence, the Commune of Sesto has traditionally been attentive and supportive towards this sector.
During the last few years, a big effort has been devoted in particular to historical reconstruction. In order to make both this research and the promotion of Sesto ceramics tradition systematic, the Commune has set up the Sesto Ceramics Archive.

Established in 1989, the Sesto Ceramics Archive has acquired an ample documentation on the production and history of the manufactures, in particular those in activity between the late 1800s and World War II.
The body of documents has been collected also tanks to the understanding and willingness of many Sesto residents, who agreed to donate or loan documents and other objects in their possession.

The paper documentation
- factory files
- about 3,000 sketches and punching templates
- product catalogues by various companies
- photographs of factory interiors.
About 1,000 photos of finished items have also been included.

The Plasters’ section
The Plasters’ section of the Ceramics Archive contains in excess of 1,500 plaster models and casts, used between the end of the 19th century and World War II by the Egisto Mantechi Manufacture and Ciulli Artistic Ceramics.
Recently the section has acquired several hundred casts and models in plaster made by the La Perla Manufacture in the post-WWII period.