This remarkable technique has been around since the Paleolithic era, as evidenced by the wide variety of everyday ceramic items in historical and archaeological museums. From Greek to Chinese civilization, ceramics were used to create dishes, vessels and even weapons. In fact, pottery is a composite of clays that are molded into different shapes and then fired at high temperatures, around 15000 Cº, so that the material hardens and crystallizes.

This remarkable technique has been around since the Paleolithic era, as evidenced by the wide variety of everyday ceramic items in historical and archaeological museums. From Greek to Chinese civilization, ceramics were used to create dishes, vessels and even weapons

Porcelain is a similar technique from the 12th century manufactured in China. Porcelain is a fine-grained ceramic material made with kaolin and other binders, which makes it especially refined. Produced in the city of Jingdezhen, only for the Chinese Emperor, it was known as the best pottery in the whole world. Moreover, it was not until the 18th century that this technique was reproduced in Europe. It came from Portuguese merchants, who treated it with porcelain and showed it to their craftsmen. An example of the magnificence of Chinese porcelain is shown in the exhibition held at La Caixa from September 28, 2023 to January 14, 2024, Revered and Feared, a work known as Porcelain, circa 1700-22, China.

Porcelain is a similar technique from the 12th century manufactured in China. Porcelain is a fine-grained ceramic material made with kaolin and other binders, which makes it especially refined

Reference to Spanish tradition requires an inevitable mention of Talavera ceramics, produced in Talavera de la Reina, Castilla la Mancha, (Spain). A tradition with more than five hundred years behind it and specialized in pottery, mural production and the tile industry, it has been declared intangible cultural heritage of Spain by UNESCO. Some of the best pieces can be seen in the Ruiz de Luna museum, dedicated entirely to the transmission of this tradition and its history.

Reference to Spanish tradition requires an inevitable mention of Talavera ceramics, produced in Talavera de la Reina, Castilla la Mancha, (Spain). It has been declared intangible cultural heritage of Spain by UNESCO.

Facing the contemporary art world, ceramics has adopted a wide variety of uses and forms of expression. Developing as a sculptural language, always maintaining its essence, using exterior forms and decorative elements as a sliding medium to tell stories and express the artist's feelings. To conclude, a special mention is made to contemporary artists. Highlighting Ai Weiwei with works such as “Ghost Gu coming down the mountain” (2005), Harvey Bouterse with his work “#33” at the Stedelijk Museum, Joan Crous and his textured plate tables, Davide Monaldi with works full of figures as in “Ravers” (2023) and the Spanish artist Miquel Barceló with” Figues negres” (1997).

The artists mentioned above demonstrate that sometimes technique and tradition can fit perfectly in the contemporary world, not only with noble materials, but also with the "less valued" ones.