A ceramics workshop run by the Iachetta family across three generations: founded by master Litterio Iachetta — whose pieces are documented as early as 1940 — continued by his son Salvatore (Totò), and today led by his daughter Cinzia, at the helm since 1997. Among the last great families of Collesano's centuries-old ceramic tradition, alongside the Carrà, Barbera, Cellino and Catalano.
The work faithfully follows Madonie shapes and motifs taught by Litterio and Salvatore: candelabra, anthropomorphic oil lamps, 'fiaschi col segreto' (flasks with a hidden trick), basket vases, and the iconic ceramic friars and aubergines. Workshops in both Collesano and Palermo. Walk in to see the artisans at work; pieces can be commissioned and shipped.
Founded by maestro "Litterio" Iachetta, succeeded by his son Totò and now Salvatore Iachetta.
Reproduces the classical Madonita repertoire: candelabri, lucerne antropomorfe, frati, fiaschi col segreto, melanzane, vasi a canestro.
Affiliated with Buongiorno Ceramica and the Strada Regionale delle Ceramiche Siciliane (the "Six Sisters" of Sicilian ceramics).
Collesano ceramics have archaeological roots back to the 7th century BC; the first documented kilns in the Borgo Stazzone area date to 1567.
Signature palette: green ramina, straw yellow and manganese, with motifs of floral trophies, heraldic shields, helmets and stylised wolf heads.
Workshops in both Collesano and Palermo (Via Cappuccini 33a).
Timeline
7th c. BCCeramics are already made at the Monte d’Oro settlement above Collesano; the “Ciaramitaro” district name comes from the Greek for ceramic.
1567The earliest document attesting ceramic workshops (stazzoni) in Collesano — kiln remains survive near Borgo Stazzone.
1585A contract records clay extraction from the Bovitello quarry — the prized dark “nigra” clay.
1600sA golden age of refined “trophy” maiolica: heraldic shields, helmets and stylised wolf-heads.
1769A dated devotional tile panel survives.
late 1700sCollesano-trained masters (the REIS registry names Savia and Rizzuto) are credited with spreading the craft to other Sicilian ceramic centres.
1940The earliest documented pieces by master Litterio Iachetta.
1997Cinzia Iachetta takes over the family workshop.
2022Collesano joins the new “Strada Regionale delle Ceramiche Siciliane” as one of six member towns.
People & families
Litterio Iachetta— master whose pieces are documented from 1940; gave new lustre to Collesano ware.
Salvatore “Totò” Iachetta— his son, one of the last master ceramists of the town.
Cinzia Iachetta— third generation, running the workshop since 1997.
The old dynasties— Carrà, Barbera, Cellino, Catalano, Cirri and Asciutto, the families who carried Collesano’s craft across the centuries.
Stories & traditions
Collesano is one of the “six sisters” of Sicilian ceramics, alongside Caltagirone, Santo Stefano di Camastra, Sciacca, Burgio and Monreale.
The repertoire runs to anthropomorphic oil-lamps shaped as fashionable ladies, trick flasks (“fiaschi col segreto”), ceramic friars, aubergines and basket vases.
That wolf’s head on the old apothecary jars is a decorative motif of the “trophy” style — not the town’s coat of arms, whose colours are the blue and gold of the Ventimiglia.
The whole tradition is catalogued in T. Gambaro’s book “La ceramica di Collesano dal XVII secolo a oggi” (2000).
