Clay
in yourhands

Three thousand years of ceramic tradition just a stone's throw from the farm — with master craftsman Flavio Foderini

BOTTEGA D'ARTE KAMARS -CHIUSI

DURATION

PARTICIPANTS

AVAILABLE COURSES

BOOKING

Min 3 hours

From 2 guests

Only upon request

For centuries, our region has been producing handicrafts, with ceramics reigning supreme. In primitive times, the first artifacts were produced on the slopes of Mount Cetona: clay fired in direct flames, objects for everyday use. Then, three thousand years ago, right here in Chiusi, one of their main cities, the Etruscans refined the technique and elevated it to an art form. Shiny black bucchero ware, finely crafted vases, ceramics as a reflection of an extraordinary civilization.

Today, just a few minutes from Podere Grotta Antica, that tradition lives on in the historic Kamars workshop. Flavio F. Foderini, a renowned master craftsman, carries on this art with the same dedication as his ancestors. And he invites you to be part of it—for an afternoon, with your hands in the clay, creating something you can take home with you.

«The clay of these hills tells a story that began three thousand years ago.»

Three courses,
one tradition

Choose your way into the world of Tuscan ceramics

BASIC COURSE · FOR ALL LEVELS

Ceramics Course

Minimum duration 3 hours · All materials included

Learn the essential techniques of Tuscan ceramic decoration: from sanding to painting on biscuit, from powder transfer to glazing. No experience necessary. At the end of the course, your pieces will be delivered to the Master for final firing in the workshop kiln — and returned to you within two days, ready to take home with you.

Program

Introduction to ceramics: majolica, glazed, porcelain, stoneware
Equipment: machines, brushes, potter's wheels
Analysis of coatings: glazes, vitrines, colors
Sanding, cleaning, and glazing the object
Practical exercises in decorative painting with powder
Painting on biscuit and painted glaze
Explanation of kilns, temperatures, and firing techniques
Delivery of the work for final firing

All inclusive

Ceramic object + colors, glazes, brushes
Powders for transfer · Protective apron
Potter's wheels and working tools
Final firing in the workshop kiln
Certificate of attendance signed by the Master Craftsman

A tactile experience · even for beginners

Pottery Wheel Course

Minimum duration 3 hours · Clay included

Feeling the clay respond to the pressure of your hands, seeing a shape emerge from nothing as the wheel turns — it's an unforgettable experience. The potter's wheel is one of humanity's oldest tools. You will learn how to center the clay, shape the first primitive form, and understand why this work requires patience, presence, and a rhythm all its own.

The stages of the course

History of the potter's wheel: centuries of evolution, how the machine and pedal work
Demonstration by the potter: correct posture and behavior during work
Preparation of the clay: beating to remove air bubbles and unevenness
Positioning on the potter's wheel and centering — the most challenging and engaging phase
Modeling: the pressure of the hands forms the first bowl
Cutting the piece and placing it on the drying racks

Exclusive experience to be booked 3 days in advance

Etruscan Bucchero Decoration

Minimum duration 3 hours · The piece is prepared in advance for you

Chiusi was one of the most important production centers for Etruscan bucchero—the shiny black pottery that imitated precious metals, used in funeral rites, and symbolized wealth and power. Three thousand years later, a few steps from the National Etruscan Museum, you can experience that tradition firsthand. The reducing firing that turns the clay black is not a paint: it comes from fire, just as the Etruscan artisans did.

STEP-BY-STEP EXPERIENCE

Arrival and introduction
The potter tells the story of Etruscan bucchero with a focus on Chiusi. Fragments and reproductions, the meaning of rituals, the link between clay and civilization.
Live demonstration
The stages prepared in advance are shown: the worked clay, the hard leather piece. The reduction firing process is explained, and why the black color comes from fire, not from paint.
Your practical part
You receive your pre-formed piece. You engrave traditional decorations—geometric patterns, Etruscan figures. You apply the reliefs. You polish the surface to obtain the characteristic shine.
Fire decides
You hand your piece over to the potter for firing in the following days. He explains what will happen in the kiln. You are entrusting your work to fire — just like 2,500 years ago.
Your bucchero
The finished piece will be delivered before check-out—or shipped directly to your home if timing does not allow.

Important note: This course requires booking at least 3 days in advance. The piece must be specially prepared for you by the potter—it is part of the authentic process.

Each bucchero is unique.

YOUR MASTER

Flavio F.
Foderini

Master Craftsman · Kamars Art Workshop, Chiusi

Owner of the Kamars Art Workshop in Chiusi, Flavio F. Foderini is a renowned master craftsman who carries on the ceramic tradition of a region with thousands of years of history. He is not a teacher in the conventional sense of the word: he is a craftsman who shares his knowledge and accompanies you through the process with the patience of someone who knows that clay cannot be rushed. With him, each session is personalized and tailored to you.

Certificate of attendance
At the end of the ceramics course, Flavio personally issues an official certificate of participation.