Daniela Lai

Daniela Lai is known for her reproduction of an ancient technique known as "Zaffera", which dates back to the 15th century and was later discontinued.

This noble production involves creating raised blue decorations, a practice once prevalent in only five cities in Central Italy. The "Zaffera" technique was embraced by a more cultured society than of the archaic majolica, with which it overlapped in its mature and late phases. The "Zaffera" is distinguished by ornamental motifs that include geometric floral elements - oak leaves are a recurring theme, a sacred tree symbolising moral and spiritual strength - along with animals such as dogs, fish, birds, and anthropomorphic figures, representing a vast and magical fantasy world rooted in medieval culture. 

Click here to learn more about the story of Zaffera.

Daniela Lai also enjoys working with peperino stone, carving and inlaying it with fire and thick crystals, then glazing and painting it - a technique she has developed in recent years. 

She organises courses and demonstrations in her workshop to engage tourists and those interested in exploring her craft. 

Media coverage

• Participation in I segreti del colore (episode of 25 October 2022) – RAI CULTURA, for RAI SCUOLA | 2022
• Participation in Linea Verde Life – RAI UNO | 2022
• Participation in Sereno Variabile – RAI UNO | 2020/2021

Awards/ Recognitions 

• Licensee of the collective trademark "TUSCIA VITERBESE" from the Camera di Commercio, Industria, Artigianato e Agricoltura (Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Handicrafts, and Agriculture)
• Recognition from the OMA (Osservatorio dei Mestieri d'Arte) in Florence
• Wellmade Artisan – Fondazione Cologni
• Second prize for the work "TrAMARE la terra" – Forme e colori nella Terra di Tuscia | 2023
• Winner of the Public Prize at Forme e colori della Terra di Tuscia for the work "Luce", along with "La fiaba del passato" (a permanent installation in the Borgo delle Fiabe in Sant'Angelo di Roccalvecce) | 2019
• Second prize – Forme e colori nella Terra di Tuscia | 2019
• "Maestro Fardo" – for supporting the visually impaired artist Sandra Constantini | Viterbo, Italy | 2019
• Sculpture Prize at the I° Biennale d'Arte Contemporanea di Viterbo | 2010
• Certificate of Merit for the ceramic work "Ri-nati" at the III° Biennale d'Arte Contemporanea di Viterbo | Palazzo Brugiotti | 2010

• Argillà, International Festival of Ceramics – Faenza, Italy | 2024
• Mostra d’Arte contemporanea – Palazzo dei Priori, Viterbo for Buongiorno Ceramica | 2019
• Forme e colori nella Terra di Tuscia – Permanent installation "La fiaba del passato", Borgo delle fiabe, Sant'Angelo di Roccalvecce | 2019
• Ideator and curator of the solo exhibition of Sandra Constantini "Attraverso le mani", a visually impaired student, held at the Museo della Ceramica della Tuscia, Palazzo Brugiotti | 2019
• "Etruscan Pleasure" – C.C.I.A.A. of Viterbo – "Buongiorno Ceramica 2018" at the Museum of Medieval and Renaissance Ceramics, Palazzo Brugiotti, Viterbo. "The Ceramic Tradition of Viterbo in the Collections Preserved in the City’s Museums: Forms, Styles, and Decorations of the Artistic Ceramics of the City of Viterbo" – part of Buongiorno Ceramica, in collaboration with La Coop.va Girolamo Fabrizio and CNA of Viterbo and Civitavecchia | 2018
• From 2001 to 2011: Participated in and coordinated the setup for Artistica Soc. Coop at various fairs and exhibitions, including “Artex” in Florence, “Moa Casa” at the Fair of Rome, “Artò” in Turin, and “Artigianato a Palazzo” with the OMA of Florence. Participation in the exhibition dedicated to artistic museum gadgets held at the Museum of Expression in Paris.