modernisme i ceràmica d'art: Antoni Serra Fiter

 

The family history of the Serra ceramists began with Antoni Serra Fiter (1869-1932) within the Modernism  framework ­ a Catalan version of Art Nouveau ­ from the end of the XIX century and the beginning of the XX  century. Modernism means to say, above all, an enthusiasm for modernism which went in harmony with the changes that  were taking place in the industrial city at that time. It is a cultural replica of the industrial revolution which was  developing in Barcelona at the end of the century that has an undertone of Gaudi, of Els Quatre Gats, of the  development of Picasso, of the poet Maragall, etc. Antoni Serra Fiter, originally a painter, ended up specialising in ceramics and founded the Manufactura de  Porcelanas y Gres artísticos(1904-1908), the first studio

to specialise in porcelain and ceramics as an art in the Spanish State. An important challenge, given that until then the autochthonic tradition was limited to popular ceramics or to the concept of craftsmanship. More over: Antonio Serra Fiter became a founder of contemporary  ceramics in our country when he introduced and spread new high temperature baking techniques and new materials with all the implications that that had.

(follow>>)

   

By this means he widened the notion of ceramics beyond painted ceramics and even further beyond the traditional craftsmanship ceramics. Subsequently he lectured at the Escuela Superior de Bellas Artes(1921-1924), and this marked a point of reference for the next generation ­ for  example, Llorens Artigas, one of his many disciples , consolidated the concept of the art of ceramics and became a  technically advanced ceramist. Antoni Serra Fiter, as a ceramist and expert, endowed ceramics with a scientific
and technical foundation which was the base for the development of contemporary ceramics. Thus, the notion of archaic and primitive ceramics was overcome and ceramics was viewed as a creative art form. Thus, his innovation was not reduced to strictly technical aspects. Antoni Serra y Fiter was also one of the pioneers when he introduced a new concept of an artistic object which went beyond the traditional view of this work. With an undertone of Modernism, industrialisation and the appearance of the middle class, there emerged a new way of understanding art, which did not exist until that moment in time: the small object, relatively cheap, made semi industrially, in reduced sets.


 

In this context ceramics was an ideal means and Antoni Serra Fiter took advantage of it to reach a new concept: the artistic object of Modernism.

Antoni Serra Fiter, as ceramist, makes personalised pieces himself, although one of his greatest personal merits consists in having chosen as collaborators the most anxious artists of the epoch: young artists who later will end up being the most important creators of contemporary Catalan art. His studio was also responsible for transforming into porcelain the original works of important sculpturers such as Enric Casanovas, Ismael Smith, Miquel Blay, Pau Gargallo, Joan Carreras, Gustau Violet, Agapit Vallmitjana Abarca, Joan Llimona, Dionís Renart, and collaborates in the decoration of jugs with Josep Pey, Maria Rusiñol or Xavier Nogues.

Biographical issues
1875

He begins as a painter, practice that combine with other labour activities. La baralla (1897) is the best picture of Antoni Serra Fiter.

1893

In other civic activities related with art, he is a founder member of the association Academia Artística libre composed by artists as Santiago Rusiñol, Ramon Casas, Isidre Nonell, Joan Brull, Ramon Pichot, entre altres.

1904

He founds the manufacture, Fábrica de porcelanas y gres artísticos, the first workshop specialized in artistic ceramics of the Spanish State.

1907

He participates in different international exhibitions in Madrid, Londres and Paris. He obtains, among other prizes, the diploma "Gran Prix" in London.

1921

Teacher of Ceramics in l'Escola Superior dels Bells Oficis (Barcelona) where he introduces a new tecnic concept of ceramics.

1926 -28

He founds again the family company in la Masia with his sons , Antoni, Josep and Enric, known nowadays as Can Serra and situated in the limit between the municipality of Cornellà and Hospitalet de Llobregat, beggining, consistently, a new stage.

 

 

back<<

contacto