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Italian Arthouse Ceramics





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Deruta, the Capital City of Italian Pottery

What makes Deruta pottery irresistible?

Deruta, an Umbrian town on a hill overlooking the Tevere River valley

 

Famous for its Raffaellesco and Ricco Deruta ceramics, the Umbrian town is also home to a lively community of talented artists who keep adding to the unparalleled variety and beauty of its pottery.

 

 

Deruta has been one of the most vibrant hubs of Italian ceramics since the Renaissance in the 15th century. Every piece marked as Made in Deruta is rigorously handmade, as tradition dictates.

 

 

We have selected the most talented artisans and hand-picked for you their finest ceramics. Explore our unique collections of dinnerware, home décor, kitchenware, tiles and panels.

Learn about the history of Deruta ceramics

Map of the Italy which highlights the position of the Umbria region and Deruta

Built during the Middle Ages upon Roman foundations, Deruta sits on a hill overlooking the Tevere River valley. Its name is related to the abandoned ruins from the Gothic War of the 6th century that were scattered in the surrounding countryside.

The excellent quality and the abundance of local clay attracted potters from nearby regions.

In the early Middle Ages, Deruta pottery consisted mainly of functional vessels. Improvements in the production process and favorable geographical and political conditions encouraged the potters to make more sophisticated ceramics, often having a purely ornamental purpose.

 

A two-handled vase from the Courtauld Collection - London. The Deruta vase is dated around 1490-1500Situated in the heart of Italy, close to the centers of Renaissance arts and crafts, Deruta was the ideal place to experiment and create for any artist interested in ceramics.

Moreover, the long period of peace in the region, from the 15th to the early 16th century, favored the production of Deruta's finest maiolicas, now treasured by the most prestigious art institutions of the world, such as the British Museum, the Ashmolean Museum and the V&A in the UK and the Met in NY, the National Gallery in Washington DC, to mention but a few.

Deruta maiolicas from the Renaissance often featured figurative subjects painted with blue, yellow, and orange glazes. Deruta lusterware, with its signature golden iridescence, was also very popular.

In the same decades, the forms also evolved, growing scrolled, snake-like handles, elaborate feet or scallop rims.

 

Deruta lusterware plate from the early 16th century featuring a Bella Donna, a female portrait. It is hosted at the National Museum of Ravenna, ItalyCeramics and paintings were considered equivalent in terms of artistic and decorative standing. Deruta's celebration plates (piatti da pompa), footed bowls (coppe amatorie), and apothecary jars were fashionable gifts for high-end weddings or political meetings. Wealthy merchants collected Deruta pottery as a status symbol and proudly displayed them in their newly built homes.

During the Renaissance, fifty-two kilns were active inside the town walls, and a respected Potters' Guild acted to regulate and protect the local craftsmanship and trade.

Much has changed since the 16th century, but not Deruta's role as the capital city of Italian ceramics.

Discover the variety of Deruta ceramics

As a major center for the production of Italian maiolica, Deruta offers a wide variety of styles and forms. We have strived to capture this fascinating heterogeneity in our collections, so it's no surprise that we carry a vast array of Deruta pottery covering the finest in Deruta, from classic to modern pieces.
Check below for a few examples, or browse the navigation menu for the full range.

Classic Deruta tableware

Timeless Deruta tableware inspired by centuries-old designs, handcrafted as tradition requires.

 

 

Deruta Geometrics

Vibrant, intricate designs that have become a symbol of Ravello and the Amalfi Coast but are indeed handcrafted in Deruta.

 

 

Deruta Renaissance maiolica

Ceramics telling stories and portraits of beautiful ladies & heroic men on large wall plates.

 

 

What's new in Deruta

Future icons: creative ceramics from new and established artists from Deruta.

 

 

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