Walking through Cagli, your attention can easily be captured by the artisans’ workshops displaying their handicrafts in the window shops. They can be considered the bearers of tradition and identity, and La Maiolica by Linda Zepponi is a perfect example of this reality.
In her creations coexist the heritage of the sixteenth-century decorations typical of the Montefeltro area, with more modern and original instances. You can immediately see it in the background glazes of her majolica: these are not just in the classical white, but also in the Berrettino blue (following the Faenza school) or in the very modern and fashionable black.
The style of Linda’s decorations is astonishing, characterized by a fine and precise line which is her personal stylistic hallmark. Her uniqueness is given by the combination of many different techniques, from the local Bianchetto or white-out (which creates a lace effect in her creations), to the skilful use of the mezzotint. Moreover, she experiments combining the majolica with bitumen, wax or lustre with the golden color in homage to the admired Klimt.
The room that houses the exhibition opens into the beating heart of the store, exactly the laboratory, which is visible to the public. Thanks to this arrangement, people can see, understand and appreciate the long and painstaking work which leads to the birth of the ceramics.
Linda confidently holds brushes with bristles as thin as scalpel blades, immerges these in water and then in natural clays which are the basis of the colors she uses. This is one of the most surprising passages of her work: the initial earthy state does not correspond to what will appear after cooking her creations in the large oven. And, the same dye will not always give the same result being whimsical and sensitive to the slightest variation of the water. Despite everything, Linda continues her process confidently, she traces her chromatic embroideries with surgical precision and with particular attention not to waste anything. The color that settles on the bottom of the water, in fact, will then be remixed and reused, to create new shades.
Over the years, Linda has also specialized in other processes, moved by the desire to amaze and try different combinations. She has also shared her passion in numerous workshops which always bring something new to her art.

Article taken from : ITINERARIO DELLA BELLEZZA nella provincia di Pesaro Urbino (THETA edizioni)