Discovering the Art of Deruta Ceramics!
Today we’re invited by our friend Anna for a tour of her fantastic ceramic factory in the town of Deruta, Italy. We’re here to meet the artisans who make her gorgeous Deruta ceramics, and after our tour we’re all going out to enjoy a large lunch together. Sounds good!
After a glorious drive along a tree-lined road winding through gorgeous countryside, we are greeted by Anna with kisses on each cheek Italian-style. She guides us around the showroom that’s at the front of the building, and we see an astounding number of vibrant, artful ceramics for almost every room in a house. We’ll get to know this showroom better over the course of the next several days, but right now we’re off to the production room.
Here we are introduced to an artisan who is highly skilled in throwing clay to make beautiful ceramic containers. I watch as he pulls off a large hunk of damp clay and carries it over to his wheel. After the clay is properly set on the turning wheel, he begins using his hands to shape, stretch, and shape again and hollow out the vessel that is now starting to resemble quite a large vase. He carefully forms the rim at the top of the vase and then shapes the clay into a more elegant form and at the same time makes the vase even taller. With careful assurance, he lifts the vase off the wheel and then masterfully flutes the top rim.
As I look around the production room filled with shelves holding hundreds of formed but unpainted pieces, it dawns on me that his two hands are largely responsible for all the impressive things that I’m seeing. I thank him for allowing me to photograph him at his creative work, and we both agree that it’s flustering to be photographed.
Now we move to the room where the formed clay pieces are hand painted. On this day, five women are sitting in rapt attention as they glaze Christmas ornaments, large serving platters, dinner plates, and candlestick holders. Painting is a detailed process that begins with the person who is the keeper of the design, and some of these designs go back to the Italian Renaissance in the 14th century! After she lightly marks the design on the clay, the painters grab the right size brush for the job and apply color glazes with great skill. The painted pieces are then fired in the kiln, where the colors bloom to full vibrant brilliancy.
Once the ceramics are cooled, wrapped, and boxed, they are shipped worldwide, including to Menus and Music in the United States. I am honored to have sold Deruta ceramics made by these incredible artisans for the past twelve years. And so, a centuries-old tradition continues every time you and I enjoy one of these beautiful handmade works at home—long may this tradition continue!
