Mare de Deu dels Desamperats, 5-7 – 08012 Barcelona
Taller de Cerámica SOT started its activity in 1984, being Joaquim Toribio and Manel Diestre the founders of the business. Jordi Salvador joined them afterwards. The three of them have a diploma in Visual Arts and they are specialized in ceramics, sculpture procedures and design.… They also possess the Master Craftsman card, awarded by the Generalitat de Catalunya.
Their main work is the restoration and conservation of the ceramic elements of the Architectural Heritage, with two manufacturing lines.
The more traditional one consists of the manufacture of waxed stencils, using – as far as possible – the same clays, oxides and dyes that were used in the old days. This process implies mastering other techniques such as modelling, the use of moulds, and the potter wheel, among others.
In terms of decoration, they make use of the technique of l’estergit or sketching with a stencil, which consists of copying a drawing or engraving with a stippled transparent paper. Then, with their hands, they spread carbon dust over the piece of paper, so the black marks remain on the surface of the piece. Alternatively, they use metal, wood or cardboard templates which enable them to easily reproduce any type of motive.
Joaquin Toribio is qualified in visual arts and artistic ceramic design and sculpture procedures by the Escola de la Llotja (Barcelona), with specialization courses in techniques regarding the conformation of ceramics and the Raku technique. Carnet Mestre Artesà nº 2.618.
Jordi Salvador is qualified in ceramic… design and is a specialist in modelling and plaster moulds. Carnet Mestre Artesà nº 2.620.
Manuel Diestre is qualified in visual arts and artistic ceramic design and sculpture procedures by the Escola de la Llotja (Barcelona). He is an expert in ceramic chemistry and in the manufacture of art nouveau tiles. He has attended different specialization courses: in stoneware and enamels at high temperatures at the School located in Aix-en-Provence, in ceramics at low temperatures at the Escola Ceràmica La Bisbal, in the Raku technique, in lustreware ceramics, in crystalline glaze (Teresa Gironés) and in Ceramic Chemistry (Escola d’Arts i Oficis Artistics in Barcelona). Carnet Mestre Artesà nº 2.619.
Taller de Cerámica SOT has several agreements with official schools of ceramics for trainee students to carry out their internships with them in their workshop.
They have taken part in restoration works such as:
1992 – Church of Sant Quirze de Pedret, Palau Güell (Barcelona).
1994 – Casa Gorina (Sabadell).
1995 – Casa Alegre (Terrassa), Park Güell: Edifici Consergeria (Barcelona).
1998 – Church of Santa María del Castell (Casteldefels).
1999 – Building located in Avda.… Meridiana, 100 (Barcelona).
2000 – Building located in Via Laietana 84, Can Serra (Barcelona), Cartuja de Montalegre (Tiana).
2001 – Llotja de Mar (Barcelona).
2002 – Park Güell: Bajada del Dragón, Casa Ramona-Caixa Fórum (Barcelona).
2003 – Palau de la Generalitat, Casa Vicens, Font del Gat (Barcelona).
2004 – Casa Golferichs (Barcelona), Castle of Cubelles (Cubelles).
2005 – Consistorial Palace in Cartagena, Maricel Museum (Sitges), Bajada de las Cascadas Parc de Montjuic (Barcelona).
2006 – Can Déu (Barcelona), Church in Lloret de Mar, Town Council of Vilanova i la Geltrú, Can´Arus (Hospitalet), Tower of San Salvador (Teruel).
2007 – Art Nouveau House in c/Carril, 22 (Molins de Rei).
2008 – Casa Batlló, Casa Ametller, Collegi Cases Fountain (Barcelona), Sant Nicasio Fountain (Gavà), Military Chapel within the Parc de la Ciutadella, Church of the Salesians, Art Nouveau House in c/ Gran de Gràcia 77, Instituto Torras i Bages, Parque de l’Oreneta, Casa de los Caracoles, Art Nouveau House in c/ Rivero 50 (Barcelona).
2009 – Joan Oliva Library (Vilanova i la Geltrú), Hospital of Sant Pau: Main façade and Pavilion of Santa Apollònia (Barcelona), Music School (Santa Coloma de Gramenet), Monastery of Pedralbes, Castle of Cardona, Town Council in Barcelona: Escalera de Prensa, Fuente Colegio Parc del Guinardó.
2010 – Parque del Laberinto, Hospital of Sant Pau: the rest of the façades and the Pavilion of Sant Jordi (Barcelona).
2011 – Cau Ferrat Museum (Sitges), Hospital of Sant Pau: Pavilion of San Manel and Clock tower.
2012 – Fundació Domènech i Montaner (Canet), Basílica La Mercè, Hospital of Sant Pau: Pavilion of Sant Jordi, Pavilion of La Mercè and Pavilion of Sant Leopold (Barcelona).
2013 – Carrer Casanova, 2, Carrer Montmany, 51 (Barcelona), Cau Ferrat Museum (Sitges), Bishop’s Palace, Casa Lleó Morera (Barcelona).
2014 – Les Arrels School (Prat de la Riba), Museo Fundació Rocamora, Casa de la Cultura de El Masnou, Cemetery of Sants, Can Fontanet, Sitges Library.
2015 – Castle of Cubellas, Apses of the Church of the Hospital of Sant Pau, Market of San Antonio.
2017 – Observatori Fabra, Palau de la Generalitat: Pati Tarongers, Maricel Museum (Sitges).