RAFFAELE APICELLA

This is the Story of my Dad 

by Caterina Apicella

Raffaele Apicella is the second child out of eight. In the world of ceramics, he is known as 'Filuccio' or 'Raffaele'. He has dedicated his entire life to creating unique ceramics - some of which are not able to be replicated to this day. A potter, a sculptor, a humble person, practical and discreet, who has never given importance to the praise and recognition that has come with his success. 

Over 80 years have passed since he first stepped into a ceramic workshop in Vietri Sul Mare, starting at just 8 years old. He began as a young boy riding his bike to and from Vietri, all the way to Positano (opposite ends of the Amalfi Coast), just to learn as much as he could.

He is truly the last "clay man" in town, who has had the privilege to meet, work and experience the most important artists, foreigners and Italians. Combined, they have all made the ceramic history that shapes the Amalfi Coast landscape. 

To this day, Raffaele himself, is now part of the ceramic history given his long dedication to the craft and time spent in the industry. Amongst the important collaborations, Raffaele always remembers with affection and big smiles: Irene Kowaliska, the Hungarian Amerigo Tot, Max Malamerson and Flora, Guido Gambone, the Procida brothers, and in the 90s, the master Mario Carotenuto. Moreover, he had a close friendship with Giovannino Carrano, and he was the student of Professor Rossi in Salerno. He would go to have lessons after a long day of work just to sit and perfect his skills. 

My dad has always worked on the wheel and he remembers in the beginning when the wheel wasn't electric, but had pedals. It needed a big of effort to operate, and as a result of him operating the wheel for so long manually, he now has one leg shorter than the other! He also had a big interest in making glass glaze from scratch, which he managed perfectly before the industry started to sell the finished product of this kind. 

Finally, to show his passion and dedication, today if you ask him what's the best thing that happened to him in his life: he still replies "Il lavoro di ceramista" - "My pottery job".