On the morning of Friday, August 24, the opening of the Arab oven of the Alfar Museum of Jiménez de Jamuz took place, where the first batch of bricks designed by Gaudí was made.
An act in which participated the director of the Gaudí Palace, Victor M. Murias, who stressed that this “is a true reflection of everything we want to convey as is to preserve the values, tradition and art of the province of León. We hope it is the beginning of a future commitment to promote Gaudí, the Palace and also the Alfar Museum.
The batch, with 100 pieces of each of the two original molds made by the master potter of the museum, was introduced a week ago and that same morning has been checked how it has come out. after the usual process that is still being done for 100 years as confirmed by the mayor of the town, Jorge Fernandez, “are not replicas, we continue to make the real brick that Gaudi saw in the same place where he stepped”.
This exclusive product will be available at the Palacio store and at the Alfar Museum, although the price has yet to be determined.
ELABORATION PROCESS
1º.The piece is elaborated.
2º. It is left to dry in the shade for a long time.
3º It is left to dry in the sun for a short time.
4º Accumulate enough to fill the oven.
5º Those glazed with minium, original of the time, are bathed.
6º Drying.
7º Put them in the oven with the rest of the pieces.
8º is ignited 10 hours of fire, 4 hours of tempering so that the whole structure of the oven acquires a temperature and then another eight hours of hard cooking. This process requires four carts of urz or heather wood, since it is the only fuel that reaches 1000 degrees.
9º Once it has been fired, it is left to rest until the potter considers that the fire has been sufficient and that the minium has taken its shine.
10º Two to three days later, the production is removed from the kiln, which has been previously covered.