Ladrillos Viceira y Muñoz S.L.

Manufacture of bricks, Manufacture of roof tiles, Manufacture of tiles, Manufacture of other ceramic elements

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ADDRESS:

Pago de la Mocatea, s/n – 18110 Las Gabias

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DESCRIPTION OF THE WORK

Ladrillos Viceira y Muñoz is located in Las Gabias (Granada), a village with great tradition linked to roof tiling, at least since Arabic times, being the only artisanal tile workshop there which is still running. The workshop is dedicated to the manufacture of bricks, clay flooring and artisanal tiling, having remained their elaboration process unaltered with the passing of the years.

In the manufacture of bricks and flooring they continue to use the traditional method: in the first place, they bring the clay from the quarries located close to the factory. Then, they carry out a mixture of clay and water in a series of basins enabled for that purpose. After that, the combination of clay and water is poured on to a series of flat surfaces, and from there, the material is introduced into a series of wooden moulds. Then the exceeding material is eliminated with a flecha (tool to remove spare clay from the pieces) and lastly, the craftsman turns the pieces upside down on the mantillo (the layer used to avoid the clay to adhere to the surface where it sits) so that they are set to air dry. Once they are dry, they are placed in the Arabic kilns (one of their relics), to acquire different tones depending on where they have been placed within them.

Another field they work in is artisanal tiling, having been advised from the very beginning by Isidro (a marvellous long-established potter). For the elaboration of the tiles they use more refined clays, modelled and air-dried, which are fired in the kiln at 980º. Once they have been fired – to obtain the colour which is aimed for – the artisans use their own formulations and coat the pieces one by one. If the piece is to be decorated, they use acetate stencils to draw with charcoal the motive and to paint them after one by one.

Another activity they carry out is the reconstruction of pieces (bricks, roof tiles, tiling, and flooring) for restorations.

APPRENTICESHIP

This business was founded by José Manuel Viceira Povedano in 1992, who has always been linked to the world of ceramics and who passed on his passion for the craft to his children.

SELECTED WORKS

They have worked for buildings such as the Alhambra in Granada, the Church of Santo Domingo, the Church of Santa Ana, the replica of the Alhambra in Saudi Arabia, the Cathedral of Málaga, the Royal Hospital, the Seminar in Málaga, the remodelling of the Río Genil, the Building of San Felipe Neri, the Archbishopric of Córdoba, the Mosque of Córdoba, the School of Architecture in Granada, a Roman Villa in Madrid, and the Basílica de las Angustias, among others.