cottoetrusco's terracotta showroom embraces century-old artisanry

cotto etrusco opens showroom in perugia, italy

In Montone, one of Italy’s most picturesque villages that surrounding the walled town center, Cotto Etrusco opens its showroom. The tile manufacturing company offers a space for the imagination in a location that is defined more as an artistic design experience than an exhibition. Once inside, the visitor is immersed in wall-tall examples of the company’s myriad colored-tiles, built on floors adorned with Renaissance patterns and complemented by a terracotta partition that frames the Perugian landscape.

tile manufacturing company Cotto Etrusco opens its showroom in Montone, Perugia

all images courtesy of Cotto Etrusco

Everything started in 1995 in Tuscany, from the desire to reactivate an ancient kiln for the production of wood-fired natural terracotta tiles, collected in a pit of Etruscan origin. The close relationship between the designers and master craftsmen allows Cotto Etrusco to recover century-old production techniques with the secret formula of mixtures and glazes. The quality of products remains uncompromised as the company achieves a 100% ecological manufacturing process by using natural clays that are hand-pressed. Within their showroom opening in 2023 in Perugia, the company conveys the contemporary and sustainable use of a traditional material such as terracotta.

more than 1,200 colors and finishes are on display

each tile is handmade using wooden molds

Cotto Etrusco considers research the strategic element of company development. In the immersive showroom, design professionals and not only get to see the company’s ceramic, artistic experiments, carefully made and arranged to please personalized and exclusive requests as well. As written on the walls in neon, ‘Beauty and Happiness Stem from Perfect Imperfections’ – a quote that the company stands by as each tile that adorns the interiors is uniquely shaped meticulously by artisans using handmade wooden molds.

the company conveys the contemporary and eco-sustainable use of a traditional material such as terracotta

each tile that adorns the walls and floors is shaped meticulously by artisans using handmade wooden molds

the showroom fills with more than 1,200 colors & finishes

The space draws inspiration from nature, history, and cultural heritage, infusing a harmonious balance between human creations and the environment. Entire walls are decorated with more than 1,200 colors and finishes, displaying the versatility and customization possibilities that can be created. Looking around, one can’t help but notice the rich textures and tones of the Terre Ossidate and Natural Terracotta collections, the Ancient Lustre Rubboli 1873 collection and its gold and ruby glazing, or Estrolab’s multiple chromatic effects. Polished or not, in complex geometries or basic shapes, the compositions are endless.