Sandra & Stefano Giusti

Ceramicist | Paterno, Italy

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Fondazione Cologni Dei Mestieri D'Arte

Clay and glazes from the bottom of their hearts

Sandra and Stefano love clay and creativity
They use special, natural glazes that they make from ash
They enjoy sharing their craft through teaching and authoring

When they met and got married, Sandra Pelli and Stefano Giusti decided to be artisans together as both of them loved ceramics. In 1985 they opened their family-owned ceramic studio in Paterno di Pelago, a tiny village on the hills near Florence. "This is the perfect place to find inspirations and to create," they say. They design and produce objects and furniture in grès and porcelain, combining different traditional techniques and decorating them with special glazes. Their creations go around the world and are hosted in many national and international exhibitions. In 2008 Sandra and Stefano also wrote a book called L’arte di plasmare l’argilla to explain to younger generations the secrets and the satisfactions of working with clay, a craft that their son, Lapo, also learned to love. Since June 2022 Lapo has been working with them in the studio.

Interview

Why do you love clay so much?: Sandra: It is a natural, living material with which I can interact. It allows me to express and to test my creativity. It gives me and other people emotions. Children appreciate its magical features.
What are your sources of inspiration?: Sandra: First and foremost, nature. In our valley there is a very special and rich ecosystem. Many ideas and suggestions also come from watching and studying works of artists such as Bernard Leach, who promoted pottery as a combination of art and philosophy.
What does 'well made' mean to you?: Stefano: An artfully made object is a synthesis of form and glaze, with an ingredient that no ceramicist can foresee: the action of fire. The firing process creates an alchemy that mixes and changes materials, shapes and colours. The result is always surprising.
Why are your glazes so special?: Stefano: We produce them using ashes. Thanks to different firing processes we can get unique shades and nuances. We also developed a special technique to get crystalline glazes, compounds created specifically to form small crystals under the surface of the glaze. Research is the driving force of our activity, we never stop exploring new techniques and materials.

Sandra & Stefano Giusti are master artisans: they began their career in 1985 and they started teaching in 2013