Bricks, tiles of all kind and pipes are all common ceramic elements used in construction that draw from diverse ancestral skills. Whether discovered in Geneva or brought back from faraway lands, whether fired in a Gallo-Roman kiln or cast in a twentieth century factory, terracotta elements have for a long time been considered for their documentary value. Yet studies reveal important technological innovations, vast trade circuits and the presence of workshops whose productions were marked by stamps or finger-made signatures. Certain pieces even immortalize fleeting moments, like the chance imprint of a dog’s paw or goat’s foot in the still soft clay. Brought together at the Maison Tavel, these architectural ceramics from different times are viewed from both a functional and aesthetic angle.

More information on the 50th Congress of the International Academy of Ceramics at geneve2022.aic-iac.org