Tuscan terracotta is commonly represented by the predominantly red brick: this is partly true and is the characteristic that immediately catches the eye. The red Tuscan terracotta is the one typically associated with the Impruneta (FI) production area.
The color of the artifacts is primarily determined by the chemical components naturally present in the clay: iron oxides give an intense red hue, calcium ferrites give a yellow color, pure clays (kaolin) provide white, and finally, magnetite, graphite, and carbon give the black nuance.
Castel Viscardo's Terracotta
Castel Viscardo (TR), geographically just 15 km away from Tuscany (provinces of Siena and Arezzo), has a geological terrain structure that is not much different from the latter. The clays found in this area typically give a color range from intense yellow to light pink, indicating that the chemical composition of the clay is predominantly composed of calcium ferrites, with iron oxides being present, but in smaller amounts.
We can reasonably say that the typical terracotta from Castel Viscardo, derived from the clay extracted from the quarries adjacent to the production areas (such as the one in Via delle Fornaci, owned by Fornace Bernasconi), ranges from yellow to pink. This differentiation is due to the firing temperature. The clay becomes more yellow as it is fired at higher temperatures, and as the temperature decreases (by 40/50°C), the clay gives the brick a reddish hue, passing through the various warm tones typical of wood-fired baking.
Although the production of handmade terracotta, which ranges from yellow to pink (using local clay quarries), represents the vast majority of Castel Viscardo’s kiln volume, in some cases, bricks with tones ranging from bright pink to intense red are produced to meet customer requirements. This is possible by using clay sediments rich in iron oxides from nearby Tuscany. Even with a variation in the clay, the production process and wood firing remain the same, resulting in handmade bricks with technical characteristics identical to those typical of Castel Viscardo (yellow/pink), and suitable for eco-building.
Tuscan Terracotta: Fornace Bernasconi production
Fornace Bernasconi, upon customer request, produces handmade terracotta using clay extracted from nearby Tuscany. We can indeed create red, pink, and red-based nuances, reproducing the traditional Tuscan terracotta while maintaining the aesthetic characteristics (the finishes) typical of our bricks. The entire production process is manual, and the firing takes place in a wood-fired oven, giving the bricks soft color gradations.
The mix of Tuscan and Umbrian terracotta for flooring is highly sought after (especially abroad): by randomly alternating the various colors, a unique effect can be achieved.
The physical resistance properties of the red and yellow products are the same, with the firing occurring in both cases at approximately 1000°C. The installation and treatment of Tuscan terracotta require the same care as typical Umbrian terracotta, as they share the same characteristics.
