Christian Pegoraro

BottegaNove

Tile maker

©Mattia Balsamini

©Simone Agostoni

The charm of the human touch

Christian modernised his family pottery into contemporary tile making
He makes ceramic and porcelain mosaics and tiles for interior designs
He believes making by hand is the antidote to standardisation

In mid-2010s, Christian Pegoraro took over the family pottery founded by his grandfather in 1964, and decided to transform this traditional atelier into a contemporary studio. The Venetian town of Nove has been a hub for ceramic production since the 17th century. Christian's BottegaNove is a workshop specialised in the making of ceramic and porcelain mosaics, mainly used for architecture and interiors. With the adoption of new materials and finishings and to a very sophisticated and refined design approach, Christian and his team have managed to combine the ancient artisans’ tradition and techniques with a modern vision. Today they are able to embark on grand projects without limit.

Interview

©Mattia Balsamini

©Mattia Balsamini

Who was the master who trained you?: My hometown Nove has a tradition in ceramic production dating back to the 17th century and I grew up surrounded by people working on this craft. My family owned a pottery workshop and when my turn came I had to face the typical challenge of my generation: reinvent a traditional business in a contemporary and distinctive way.
How do you express tradition and innovation in your work?: Tradition lies in the techniques, which are still pretty much the same as they used to be a long time ago. Working by hand is more than ever the secret ingredient to creating shapes and nuances that no machinery can generate. On the other hand, my materials, enamels and designs can be extremely innovative.
What do you love most about your profession?: They say that it takes 10,000 hours to master a craft. With ceramic this is not enough. You never really know it completely. It remains a challenge that we are lucky to face time after time in collaboration with our clients and partners: original design and architecture studios looking for something different, not mainstream.
What does well made mean to you?: If you are a craftsperson, well made does not mean perfect. It means balancing the highest qualitative standards with a human trace – it might be imperfection – expressing passion, care, passing of time. Imperfection is our human signature. It is where the charm lies.

Christian Pegoraro is a master artisan: he began his career in 2010 and he started teaching in 2016