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The long tradition of Castellamonte stoves

The nineteenth century marked the triumph of the classic stove Castellamonte, but they were also appreciated and in demand in previous centuries.
Towards the end of the17th century, when decorated stoves were still in vogue, a new stove called the “Franklin” appeared. It was to be an enormous success and contributed considerably to the fame of the local potteries. The first tiled stove to have a fan and a glass door through which the flames could be seen, was built by the Reasso family, a family of craftsmen whose factory was in the S. Rocco area of Castellamonte.
In the 19th century the classical Castellamonte stove came into its own: its elaborate decorations and bright windows-coloured glazes made it a prized piece of furniture. So much so that some of these stoves were sold as far away as St. Petersburg in Russia. But soon other kinds of heating systems became available and this tiled stove went out of fashion. Years later though, it came into its own again, as people began to be aware of environmental problems and appreciate how beneficial this kind of heat could be. The stove’s splendid decorations and its cost-effectiveness added to its appeal. A few courageous and enterprising craftsmen started producing the stoves again and convinced customers that they were ideal for heating and furnishing both old and modern homes.

The art of Castellamonte stoves and ceramics

Sometimes an everyday object, whose design and use we are very familiar with, can take on a completely different meaning through the skill of a famous artist.

The well-known Italian artist, Enrico Baj, who was one of the celebrities at the 24th Ceramics Exhibition in Castellamonte, used objects produced locally, apparently put together randomly, such as plates and trays in terracotta, broken objects, kiln spacers and friezes and capitals, to create a work of art especially for this exhibition. The result was some heads with strange names and various expressions such as “astonished”, “amazed”, “happy”, “sad”, “ironical” and “aggressive”.

Baj also decorated a Vulcano stove, which had been assembled in a most unusual way, by painting and firing it. “Monument”, as this work is called, is now in the Ceramics Museum in Castellamonte.

A Vulcano stove, made entirely in tiled stove, went on display at the Turin Design Exhibition in 1995: it was an excellent example of how tradition can be combined with modern technology, both for its performance and its external appearance.

The contrast between the natural tiled stove surface and its modern design is an excellent tribute to past and present. At the Delirium Design Exhibition, dedicated to Edgar Allan Poe, held on the tenth anniversary of the "Abitare il Tempo " (Verona 1995), a "La Castellamonte" stove was reinterpreted and redesigned by the Architect William Sawaya.

The neo-gothic style of the stove, with its arches and columns, conjures up memories of famous stories and the houses they took place in. Practically the whole of the sides of the stove are decorated with flames that seem to merge and consume the fire within: it is somewhat disturbing to look at, as the boundaries between reality and imagination seem to merge.

R.P. La Castellamonte di R.Perino & C. Snc - Laboratories: Via Casari s.n. - Tel. e fax 0124 58 16 90 - 0124 51 41 49 - info@lacastellamonte.it

Shoowroom: Via Educ, 29 - Tel. e fax 0124 51 38 85 - 10081 Castellamonte (TO) ITALY - P. IVA 05362500018