The
story of Deruta is the story of la ceramica; the pottery of this
small Umbrian town is known throughout the world. With soil rich in
water and clay, the necessary natural resource was in abundance and,
thus, Deruta was the perfect place for such a craft to have its
origins. The evolution of Deruta majolica goes back to the
twelfth-fourteenth centuries when the pottery was made primarily for
daily use - bowls, basins, and pitchers decorated with geometric,
floral, and animal patterns and brown in color. In the fifteenth
century, yellow, blue, and orange were added; the motifs became more
intricate and complicated and the artistry reached its height. Now
not only for daily use, the majolica took on a ceremonial tone and
exquisite ceramic plates were created with pictures of noblemen or,
perhaps that of a bride and groom...a perfect wedding gift! The
artists, Giacomo Mancini and Francesco Urbini refined the “lustro”
technique and tiles and other decorative objects were then in demand
in Umbrian churches. Styles may have changed during the successive
years, but the craftsmanship only got better. One can see firsthand
the production of Deruta ceramica in the many workshops, studios, and
factories found in the town.
My
visit to Deruta last Wednesday had a personal touch. When visiting
the Antica Fornace Deruta, one of many ancient kilns, I was
privileged to meet Giovanni Baiano and his lovely wife and learn,
firsthand, the history of this local craft. Giovanni's vast knowledge
and boundless enthusiasm made my visit memorable and the story of how
he and his American wife met just by chance reinforced my belief that
romantic love can happen in the “wink of an eye”...or is it a
“turn of the potter's wheel.”
"Antica Fornace Deruta” is a treasure trove of unexpected treasures … of art, passion, dedication and life … the intersection of so many lives and so many stories related to these masterpieces of Deruta pottery, which the family Baiano, with passion and pride holds, for all those who want to be fascinated. Find out more about the shop, the kilns, the italian pottery. We await your visit!
ReplyDeleteThank you to Andrea for the lovely writing on Antica Fornace Deruta. We are sharing with our friends on FB.
ReplyDelete"Antica Fornace Deruta” is a treasure trove of unexpected treasures … of art, passion, dedication and life … the intersection of so many lives and so many stories related to these masterpieces of Deruta pottery, which the family Baiano, with passion and pride holds, for all those who want to be fascinated. Find out more about the shop, the kilns, the italian pottery. We await your visit!
ReplyDeleteAntica Fornace Deruta is a pottery shop, workshop, ancient kiln, museum and an astounding collection of Deruta pottery and ceramic design, production and history from 1400 to the present – in the historic center - off the main stretch for all those who want to be fascinated - not to be missed. Phone 392.525.8777.
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