What are the most popular Italian dinnerware patterns?
Ask the question to a hundred Italians, and you’ll get a hundred different answers. We have so many regional designs, all deservedly popular thanks to their beauty and their century-old heritage.
However, I do wish to try and answer this question without claiming that this is an exhaustive list of all the best Italian dinnerware patterns, of course. It’s just a brief guide to help you choose.
1 – Classic Italian dinnerware patterns
Three designs belong to this group, all from Deruta: Raffaellesco, Ricco Deruta and Arabesco.
Inspired by 15th and 17th-century Deruta pottery, their classic beauty makes them versatile dinnerware sets whose exquisite elegance and subtle refinement are never commonplace. Here is a short description.
Raffaellesco
This popular tableware design is inspired by the frescoes painted by Raffaello or Raphael, the famous 16th-century Italian artist.
Raffaellesco is adorned with a stylized mythical dragon, a benevolent deity, granting good luck and fair winds to the seagoing merchants, as symbolized by the puffs of wind steaming from its mouth.
Having an authentic Raffaellesco in your home is thought to bring good luck.
Ricco Deruta
The origins of the Ricco Deruta design can be traced back to Perugino, one of the painters of the Sistine Chapel. This design e Umbrian frescos and reinterprets them in the typical Deruta style. Unusual yet beautiful, the blue version is available in some selected stores. The Ricco Deruta collection is marked by rich, vibrant colors and a delicate yet regal design that can be traced back to frescoes by Perugino, one of the painters of the Sistine Chapel.
Arabesco
Arabesco is inspired by a Persian calligraphic design from the 17th century. It’s a cheerful, lively Deruta pottery design that has proven to be timeless, remaining popular for over four centuries.
In the most beautiful version, each leaf or petal is first sketched with color and then carefully outlined. These two stages deliver the design’s unique casual elegance, which makes it perfect for the everyday and formal tables.
When visiting Deruta, you’ll find dozens of stores selling handmade classic dinnerware sets. Beware of low prices and quick and rough designs. If you want to go for quality dinnerware, make sure that the pattern details are neat, accurate and rich and that the colors are well-shaded.
Click on the picture below and look carefully at these plates: they are both hand-painted in Deruta in the traditional Raffaellesco pattern. They look very different, though.
A is less decorated than B: there are only two dragons, a lesser number of details, and a larger unpainted surface.
These differences highly impact the value of your Italian dinnerware. Keep an eye on them while making your choice!
One of the best Raffaellesco’s among Deruta ceramics is the one by Fima, a small, family-run company, very focused on quality and respectful of the most traditional techniques.
2 – Geometric Italian dinnerware patterns
Geometric dinnerware sets, also called Vario dinnerware, are powerful reminders of the Hispano-Moresque origins of Italian pottery. They were especially popular in Deruta in the 16th century, where intricate, symmetric patterns were often painted on a dark blue background.
A geometric dinnerware set always adds a touch of luxurious style to any table, whether modern or traditional. Additionally, it’s very exciting to mix and match various patterns to create unique and personalized place settings.
The geometric dinnerware sets I prefer are those hand-painted by Eugenio Ricciarelli. I love his blue, velvety backgrounds, making the ochre, green and red designs stand out.
I also recommend looking at D&G Design ceramics, a most successful blend of tradition and creativity.
3 – Fruit Italian dinnerware patterns
No matter if simply sketched or richly decorated, the cozy stylishness of Italian fruit dinnerware reconciles classic and modern style lovers.
Some of the most opulent patterns will make you feel the Mediterranean sun on your skin, the delicious taste of ripe fruit, the sound of bees buzzing around, the pleasure of eating under a grapevine pergola.
There is not a standard fruit pattern that I can recommend to you. What I can say, though, is that the most beautiful Italian fruit patterns have in common a rich color palette and an abundance of rich shades and details. Choose the fruit you love the most: figs, peaches, plums, apricots, pears, apples, pomegranates… Flowers are often intertwined with fruit leaves in a cheerful and always splendid composition.
The next step is to view as many patterns as possible before deciding what is the right one for you.
But before you start to browse for Handmade Italian Dinnerware, make sure you have all the info you need to make a good choice. It might be a good idea to read my article “A Quick Guide to Handmade Italian Dinnerware“.
As usual, I like to end my articles with one last piece of advice: never compromise on quality!
The Modern Origins of Raffaellesco and Ricco Deruta Designs.
Grazia Ranoccchia, author of “Deruta-Manifatture e Ceramiche, 1920-1960” credits Professor Alpinolo Magnini as the creator of the modern interpretations of these designs which have become so closely identified with the ceramics of Deruta. Magnini was one of the major forces in the revitalization of the ceramics industry in Deruta during the early years of the twentieth century. He had served as the technical and artistic director of Societa Anonima Maioliche Deruta, as well as director of both the Communal School of Design and Curator of the Communal Museum. Ricco Deruta has been best described as a “re-examination from the Art Nouveau perspective of the Floral Volutes of the 16th century”. The modern Raffaellesco design was, again, Magnini’s very personal attempt to modernize an ancient motif and breathe new life into the ceramics of early twentieth century Deruta production.
Ian looking tuscany dinnerware with the conesters. JCPenny used to have tha dinnerware. But know they dont carry it anymore. If you can let me know how i can get hold of that pattern toscany in fruits patter with the canester also. Sidelia c. Huizar. Home address is 202 North Pacific ave Santa Ana. Ca 92703
can you tell me anything about a pitcher i bought that says cioccolatta on front with round design and on bottom says made in italy 793 in marker
i have a hand painted biscotti jaf with fruits and says biscotti on it on bottom says hand painted for nonni”s made in china with chinese writing can you tell me anything about it?
I have a full set of Cantagalli dinnerware, purchased in NYC in the mid-1960s. The colors are: white background, yellow rim, green leaves outlined in blue with yellow leaf tips.
Does anyone know what the pattern is? It is more earthenware in style.
tks,
Barbara
I have a dark mauve, white and black drawings teapot marked LABOR DERUTA. It has drawings of a man with a crown holding a flower on one side and flowers all around in areas, and a servant on the other side. Can you tell me the pattern?
hi ! I have dinnerware (set of 6) with a couple of extra pieces. They are marked San Marco home living made in Italy Dal 1891 . Can you help me figure out if it is authentic ? My friend says it is Italian ceramics bought in Italy. He is from Naples.
Looking for this pattern that I have a photo of but could not add the photo to this message.
Is there another way you can receive the photo.
Mona
We would like to send photos of needed replacements.
Assunta. Lemons and blue.
Please respond
Hello Assunta,
please send your photos using this link: https://www.thatsarte.com/contacts
Thank you!