God created the heavens and the earth, but was not satisfied. He added birds, fish, and plants, but still not satisfied, he created man from clay. "...And He took dust from the ground and formed it in His own image, after His own likeness" (Genesis chapter 2). And man was born.
The Colì Brothers, in their own way, have continued to believe in the magical land from which humanity descends. They themselves, from Cutrofiano, a village in the Salento region, are a perfect embodiment of their name, a name composed of two Greek words meaning "producer of terracotta vases."
This production, influenced by the Messapians, was refined with the cultural influences of Magna Graecia. The settlement of Cutrofiano has medieval origins, and during the Byzantine period, being located in an area rich in clay, abundant water, and wood, it gave rise to the terracotta craft with the producers of Keramos, or clay vases. The Colì family's artisanal production dates back to 1650. The land registry of the time records Pascale Colì as a "codimaro," a craftsman who made clay vases, in Cutrofiano. Some swear that if you could go even further back in time, the Colì name is still among the producers of terracotta objects.
Today, the artisan tradition is perpetuated and renewed through skilled young craftsmen, so much of the production is crafted and decorated by hand.
In Cutrofiano, the old and the new come together, entering into symbiosis or going hand in hand, respecting the different knowledge.
The Colì Brothers have taken over the baton from Antonio the Elder, a tireless and skilled co-worker, vigilant and attentive until his final days. We can almost see him here among us, overseeing production, wandering the shelves to ensure all the ceramics are in their proper place, ready to provide comprehensive answers and explanations to all customers.
From the elder to the younger Antonio, also a codimaro, there's a common thread: total dedication and love for this craft. He, along with Donato, Giuseppe, and Massimo, spearheaded the company's transformation, leading the Fratelli Colì company to expand internationally. The Colì brothers deserve credit for preserving their cultural identity and local tradition, creating a manufacturing enterprise of great interest to Salento. They were the first to build their own factories to produce terracotta and ceramic products, involving many families in this endeavor. Turners and codimari are the most common professions here.
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