Deruta decals

In Deruta the recent fight against "fakes" of Deruta handmade ceramics has caused enormous troubles in the town of Deruta and within its community. The town Hall and the Consortium of Ceramicists called "Deruta 1282" were convinced that the problem of the market of handmade ceramics being stuck was due to counterfeits=Deruta patterns reproduced by the use of decals, plastic printed films over the glazing, considered as fakes. A variation of the low quality products painted in China and in Romania. Therefore in 2008 they started a campaign against counterfeits. Before going to China or to Romania, they started by attacking local producers: a couple of decal ceramics factories are located in the city of Deruta and another one was located in the neighborhood of Assisi.

The presentation photo of decal Deruta
dinnerware sets in the "Sur la Table"
online store, called Deruta-style.

Photo credit: Sur La Table

One of the companies in Deruta that produces decal tableware is the official supplier of the U.S. company "Sur la Table", chain stores first established in Seattle, Pike Place Market in 1972. Sur la Table on their online store advertise their decal product from Deruta as "Deruta-style collection". Worth of notice is that small parts of the products are handpainted, such as the rims on the plates or the top of the salt and pepper shakers. 

These decal ceramics can be designated as "decorated by hand", where the word "decorated" as a literal translation of "decorato"  means that a person lays down a piece of printed film on the surface of the plate with the use of their hands. The verb "decorare" in Italian also means "painting by hand"; "decoratrice" (for a woman) "decoratore" (for a man) is the name for the ceramics artists on their official paperworks. 

Decal has been in use in Deruta for many years, companies such as "Ars Artigiana" have experimented this technique several years ago as well as "Santucci ceramics" which supplied the Perugina chocolate company with ceramics items to go with their candy products. 

Probably the point was that it is not legitimate to reproduce traditional handpainted patterns by the use of decals and by using the name of the town of Deruta. The question is: how can you fulfill the demand of chain stores and their customers who wish to have the flavor of handpainted traditional ceramics on their table at a reasonable price?

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- Original Posts by Roberta Niccacci -

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Majolica of Orvieto, Italy

The Saint Catherine of Alexandria ceramics plaque
in the Church of Saint Francis in Deruta.
See detail of the pitcher, lower left, in the archaic style
(Deruta, 1919).

We continue our virtual visits to the ceramics towns in Italy by following the map of the AICC (Official Association of the Ceramics Towns in Italy). AICC confirms that the ceramics towns in our region, Umbria, are as follows: Deruta, Gualdo Tadino, Gubbio and Orvieto.

Although Gubbio and Gualdo Tadino carry on the tradition of luster ceramics, which was also traditional in the Renaissance in Deruta, Orvieto is currently the town that has the most history in common with Deruta in terms of popular patterns. 

The Orvieto green rooster pattern,
 inspired by the city of
Orvieto and produced in Deruta
(Pitcher by Cama).  

Indeed Deruta carries a pattern with the name of this beautiful town, the Orvieto green rooster, which is a best seller in American stores during Christmas time. 

Christmas berries: colors in common with
the classical Orvieto Green Rooster pattern
from Deruta, Italy 

The Orvieto green rooster pattern is the most Medieval looking of all the patterns that you may find in the palette of Deruta classical patterns. The rooster is a cheerful addition of the painters of Deruta in the early 1900s. 

Classical shape and pattern from Orvieto, Italy
- Alexandre Imbert collection -

There are some original ceramics workshops in Orvieto, not as many as in Deruta and many shops where they sell ceramics from Orvieto, Deruta and Montelupo Fiorentino. If you are looking for authentic traditional pieces, one of the local studios in Orvieto is the "Laboratorio Ceramica L'Arpia" on Corso Cavour 186, operated by a single artist who makes interesting accessories for the home and reproductions from original Orvieto products. It gives you the actual feeling of the traditional Orvieto style of the archaic period. That is what we think of when we think of Orvieto classical ceramics. 

Regarding Orvieto traditional patterns, with leaves and portraits, local ceramics artists in Orvieto are proud of the fact that they do not use the tracing paper like we do in Deruta. 

The tracing paper was the invention of Renaissance artists to reproduce their frescoes on the walls of Churches and homes based on the original work on paper. Close-ups from the Sistine Chapel in the occasion of the last restoration show nail dots on the outlining. The tracing paper is necessary in case of intricate works and when the goal is to obtain the best consistency to the original work. The tracing paper is not an easy tool to use, it is usually the best artist who does the outlining on the charcoal dots with very fine brushes. It is important not to confuse the tracing paper with the stencil. 

The bottom part of the ceramics plaque of Saint Catherine of Alexandria
with the writing in Latin:
"PICTORES  DIRUTAE  A.D. MCMXIX" (the painters of Deruta, 1919 AD).  

When the tradition of ceramics started in Deruta in the late 1200s, pieces were very similar to the ceramics of Orvieto, with few colors namely two base colors:  green (originating from copper), brown (originating from manganese) and their shades. 

Most of the pieces in Deruta were glazed and painted on the upper part only and this technique was called "A Risparmio" (economical), because this allowed the artists to save money on the glazes, colors and on the painting time. 

The artist of the reproductions of similar archaic pieces of Deruta is Carla Cornia, who in 1979 moved from Northern Italy to Deruta because of her passion for the art of ceramics. She owns a studio downtown Deruta. 

Reproduction of an archaic Deruta piece by Carla Cornia"aeconomical style" 
In this piece just a little saving...

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- Original Posts by Roberta Niccacci -

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Porcelains of Naples, Italy

Ceramics towns in Italy according to the accredited Italian
"Ceramics Towns Association" (AICC).
Six ceramics towns in the region of Campania, 36
ceramics towns in total all over Italy.

Idea for a long weekend in Italy from Dec.8th (public holiday) to Dec.11th:
paying a visit to Naples and the Amalfi Coast. How romantic! 

Ceramics is the general name for several products, from majolica to porcelains,  from water closets to floor tiles and raw bisqueware. The specific name of  each ceramics depends on the clay, the process and the finishing of the products, varying if it is art ceramics or industrial ceramics.  

The town of Naples is also listed, being the city famous for its ceramics nativity scenes and for its porcelains traditions. 

The ceramics nativity scenes are displayed every year in Naples in the neighborhood of  San Lorenzo the second week of December, starting on December 8th (Feast of the "Immacolata"), on San Gregorio Armeno Street and new figurines are added every Christmas, some of which are really trendy, about the latest news,  portraying politicians, v.i.p.s, famous showgirls, singers and top models. Many of these figurines are
humorous.

On the right Mr. Mario Monti,  the new Italian Prime Minister and in the
back Mr. Silvio Berusconi with the sign "resigning immediately"
(Nativity figurines from Naples, Italy, 2011)

Homage to Mr.Steve Jobs
(Nativity figurine from Naples, Italy, 2011)

                                 

Madame Carla Bruni and Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy
with Giulia
(Nativity figurines from Naples, Italy, 2011)

                                   

The tradition of ceramics nativity scenes goes back in Naples to the 1700s, the same century when King Carlo di Borbone and his wife Maria Amalia di Sassonia established the first porcelain factory in the neighborhood of Capodimonte in Naples and named it: "Real Fabbrica di Capodimonte" (Royal Factory of Capodimonte) inside the famous Capodimonte Royal Palace, nowadays ceramics museum and picture museum with private ceramics collections that go back to the late 1400s and to the Italian Renaissance.  

So many ceramics towns in Italy! 

In Campania, the region of Naples you may visit Vietri sul Mare for majolicas (indeed the city was founded by the Etruscans), then Ariano Irpino for ceramics nativity scenes, Cerreto Sannita and San Lorenzello for their majolicas tradition going back to the 1600s, Cava dei Tirreni for their ceramics industrial tiles. Vietri sul Mare is the only ceramics town that I visited personally, I do not have any experience about the other cities. 

The Amalfi Coast, Unesco World Heritage Site
for its landscape

On the Amalfi Coast the most visited town is Ravello, where it is possible to purchase colorful geometric Deruta ceramics upon selection of local retail stores. Ravello is not listed by the AICC among the ceramics towns of Italy, because their ceramics are imported from other cities in Italy, such as Deruta which is their best seller. 

Majolica of Siena, Italy

Tourist shops in Italy request the name of their city as
a signature.  Otherwise they do not buy from your workshop.

 Siena is a wonderful example of Italian Art. The Cathedral of Siena is a beautiful art container starting from its famous black and white marble floor to the "Piccolomini Library". The Cathedral marble floor has inspired the "Siena" pattern with the sitting deer. 

Example of original Siena artwork on wood
(by  Ambrogio Lorenzetti,  1290-1348)
called "Trittico di Badia a Rofeno" and recently restored. 

Siena is also among the tourist cities in Italy where you can find Deruta ceramics signed "Siena, Italy". In fact the Siena pattern articles in particular come from Deruta, at least most of the production until the 1990s, because in the meantime a few artisans in Siena have opened their own ceramics shops. They specialize in the Siena contrades in particular and they might produce some of the Siena pattern, known there as "Black and white" pattern. The rest of the ceramics in their shops comes from Deruta and from Montelupo Fiorentino, the historical ceramics town of Florence. Montelupo Fiorentino has its own specific style and flavor. Very different from Deruta.

Indeed Siena does not have a ceramics tradition, historically they are famous for their wonderful paintings on wood with gold leaf backgrounds dating back to the Middle Ages. I also remember that there were workshops  in Siena selling reproductions of their art on wood.

Quality ceramics are like a signature. You may recognize them
from the shapes and the style of the patterns. 

A few days ago an American lady, possibly a reader of this blog, wrote to me about a piece that she purchased in Siena in 1993 on her honeymoon. She was asking information about who made her lovers'
cup. She wrote that she loved it! This was so easy for me to answer, because this cup, that a couple could drink from at the same time, was made at my family's workshop, Cama!

The two spouts are handmade straws. The couple can drink
from the cup at the same time. My aunt Antonia was
specialized in attaching handles, spouts and finishing.
She is now retired. On this piece she did the spouts and the
sponging. 

This lovers' cup was handthrown on the wheel by my uncle Luigi in two separate pieces: the cup itself and the stand.

The process of handthrowing is very long. The piece has to dry and afterwards it is trimmed with a special tool, when it is hard enough it can be sponged. The spouts are attached after the trimming. Each piece is tested before the first firing to check if the straws are working. The painting comes as a second step.

This is why it is possible to separate the two steps of the production.

The reason why new ceramicists open their own workshop in tourist cities in Italy is because in the 1990s in Deruta several artisans started a production of raw buisqueware that they distributed outside of Deruta.
This action has contributed to the decline of the tradition of Deruta, in terms of specific denotation of the place of origin. In some ways an example of globalisation.

Why shapes are important? Because for instance Deruta is famous for its round shapes handthrown on the wheel. Shapes from Deruta were originally different from the shapes of Nove, Montelupo Fiorentino, Castelli, Vietri, Santo Stefano di Camastra, some of the ceramics towns in Italy. The clay itself was different.

Likewise I would like to point out that the Amalfi Coast does not have a ceramics tradition in terms of "majolica" in the style of Deruta, the ceramics you find in Ravello are from Deruta, unless they come from Vietri (Salerno Province), whose style is completely different. This is why Ravello is not listed among the ceramics towns in Italy.

Catherine de' Medici at the court of France

Catherine de' Medici  1519-1589

A Barbie doll with the reproduction of the
original wedding dress of Catherine de' Medici,
created by the artisans of the city of Florence in 2008. 

Piegaro, Italy is a small town in the northwest of Umbria, historically considered as a borderland between Umbria and Tuscany. At one time Piegaro was called "The Little Paris".  Piegaro has a lot in common with Tuscany, you might even hear people speak with a Florentine accent here.

Thinking of the important tradition that Tuscany has in its relationship with France, I may guess why something French might be considered as classy, sophisticated, and elegant and echoing here in Piegaro.

As a consequence, there must be historical reasons for this French influence and the first princely person we think of is the Florentine Catherine de' Medici, Queen of France.

Catherine belongs to the famous Medici family from Florence. In 1533 she got married to the king of France Henry II and she became Queen of France in 1547 at the age of 28.  Catherine and Henry had ten children, among which several monarchs.

The classical scalloped dinner
plate in the Ricco Deruta
pattern (By Cama). 

During her reign at the court of France, Catherine de' Medici brought fresh air and innovations directly from Italy. She brought chefs from Florence and revived the French cuisine, she introduced the fork, that the French did not use and at her dinner tables she only used scalloped shaped plates  (that are still best sellers in Deruta versus the smooth rim plates).

A book about the art of  needlework
to learn the Renaissance original
style of Catherine de' Medici. 

Catherine was also a great "cultrice d'ago" (tr. expert in needlework) and she created her own pattern, nowadays known as "Punto Madama Caterina" (tr. Madame Catherine's needlework) that became very popular among the ladies of the court of France.

Catherine de' Medici was a grand patron of the arts in France according to her family tradition back in Italy and there is a long list of countless art activities that she accomplished at the French court, which made her unforgettable.

A close-up of the Barbie doll.
The artisans first reproduced the original dress
full size and made the miniature afterward. 

In Deruta many years ago there was a famous needlework laboratory owned by the Corcioni sisters.

Among their artwork, they listed the "Punto Madama Caterina" or "Punto Caterina de' Medici" which has been brought back to life in the past decade by the Cultural Association "Ars Umbra", located in Deruta, President Anna Lisa Piccioni.

Follow this link to admire a modern celebration of the Renaissance tradition of needlework in Umbria.
Follow this link to read about the latest exhibition about Caterina de' Medici in Florence, Palazzo Strozzi, 2009.

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- Original Posts by Roberta Niccacci -

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Apple's apple and the Renaissance tradition of the "Impressum"

The successful Apple's brand logo
has classical origins. 

"Impressum" is a Latin word that in English translates "symbol" or "image" but it is more than this. It was a Renaissance tradition that nobles selected a maxim that was meaningful of their princely personality - usually a riddle or a play-on-word and a scene and/or a symbol. This creation was called "Impressum". The Impressum is very similar to a coat of arms/emblem, also known as a "device". 


Beyond Apple's success, an apple with a bite (a play on word with "byte") as a brand logo, there is an intimate relationship with the classical cultural codes coming from Greek and Latin traditions and in use in the Renaissance period. Apple's apple in particular is a synthesis of an original 16th century "Impressum".  Indeed Apple's logo is considered as the most meaningful example of how classical arts and traditions still influence the modern world of marketing and advertising. An interesting book about this subject is "L'originale assente" (tr. "Hidden archetypes")  by Bruno Mondadori, 2005 (ISBN 9788842492993)  curated by Monica Centanni, with many photos of current brand products. 


Monica Centanni is also the online magazine coordinator of "Engramma" (tr. engram). This is where we can read a more specific analysis of Apple's logo in terms of a classical uninterrupted tradition that started in the Renaissance period and is still vivid in the world of marketing. 

The original logo of "Apple Computer Co."
as per the classical Renaissance tradition of the
"Impressum".

Not long ago in one of my posts, I mentioned the motto "Festina Lente" (tr. haste slowly) which was Cosimo I de' Medici's maxim. In Cosimo's "Impressum" the symbol was a turtle with an inflated sail. In the case of Apple's logo the original "Impressum" was a scene with Isaac Newton under an apple tree with the saying “Newton... A Mind Forever Voyaging Through Strange Seas of  Thought... Alone”. 

The most important book about the "Impressum" art was written in the 16th century and is called "Dialogo dell' Imprese Militari e Amorose" (tr. " Military and Love Shields' Dialogues")  by Paolo Giovio, Bulzoni Editore Roma, 1978. In 1551 Sir Paolo Giovio donated the first copy of his book to Cosimo I de' Medici. The book was dedicated to him. Long-life to Florence, long life to Italian Renaissance. 

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- Original Posts by Roberta Niccacci -

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October 4th: Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Patron of Italy

A beautiful ceramics sign of a souvenir store in Assisi by famous artists Amerigo Lunghi and Serafino Volpi
 (Grazia Factory, 1923). 

Saint Francis of Assisi is celebrated every year in Assisi and in all the churches dedicated to this Saint on October 4th, the day he died in Assisi in 1226, exactly in the place where the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli is located, one of the sites where Saint Francis lived and prayed.

It is in the Church of the Portiuncola, inside the more recent Basilica, that Saint Francis in 1216 received the gift of the Indulgence for all the faithful, the so-called "Perdono di Assisi" which takes place on August 2nd every year and is the second by relevance after the indulgence of the Holy Land. By visiting the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli on August 2nd and by following a path of prayers all sins will be cleared.

Saint Francis was proclaimed Saint Patron of Italy together with Saint Catherine of Siena by Pope Pius XII in 1939.

Many wishes to everybody by the name of Francesca, Francesco, Franco, Franca, Frances, François, Françoise, Franziska, Fransiscus, Paco, Paca, Paquita for their name-day!

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Original Posts by Roberta Niccacci -

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The Chameleon, mascot of CAMA DERUTA, and The Salamander

The chameleon, symbol of air
in the Renaissance 

A MASCOT IS BORN - IT 'S A GIRL! 

If you are visiting Florence you cannot miss the tour of Palazzo Vecchio, home of Cosimo I de' Medici and his wife Eleonora di Toledo in the Piazza Della Signoria. 

Cosimo I de' Medici is the proud gentleman on the horse next to this wonderful palace, his palace, nowadays seat of the commune of Florence and Museum. 

A unique part of Palazzo Vecchio is the laboratory/curio collection (tr."Studiolo") of Francesco I, son of Cosimo and Eleonora, passionate about alchemy and patron of the arts. 

The ceiling of this room are painted and encrusted in wood, like the rest of the space from top to bottom. By lifting up your eyes you will see the whole world represented all around through its founding components: fire, water, earth and air and each of these elements are translated into symbols.

The symbols that attracted me in the "Studiolo" were two of them in particular: fire and air, for specific reasons related to the history of Deruta. 

Indeed the symbol of fire was the salamander, which in Greek mythology was considered as resistant to fire.

The symbol of air was the chameleon, changing his skin colors like the rainbow in the air and expression of adaptation and resilience. 

One reason is that "The Salamander" (tr. La Salamandra) was a famous factory in the history of ceramics in Italy. It was founded in 1921 in Rome and transferred to Perugia in 1923. The manufacturing closed in 1955. A gem in the history of ceramics. 

The "Salamandra" factory was very important to the Deruta tradition for the revolutionary products they created which set the trend in the ceramics market in the world.

If you wish to know more about this factory I recommend the following book, besides visiting the Ceramics Museum of Deruta, where you may admire several ceramics samples by La Salamandra. 

"La Salamandra: arte e industria della ceramica a Perugia 1923-1955" by Giulio Busti and Franco Cocchi, Volumnia, 2000 (ISBN 9788885330894).  

The Salamander, symbol of fire in the Renaissance.

On the other hand in Florence, I was looking for Renaissance elements that were linked to the workshop of my family, Cama, and chameleon ("CAMAleonte" in Italian) includes the word CAMA. The Chameleon can also very well express the resilience, patience and boldness of Cama in these recent years. 

To me the chameleon and the salamander are very beautiful, attractive, strong and...artistic animals, the best animals to represent ceramics arts & crafts! 

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In 1925 'La Salamandra'  ceramics factory made its headquarters in Perugia in the deconsecrated Church of "San Francesco delle Donne" (Saint Francis of the Ladies), one of the oldest Franciscan sites dating back to 1212  and continued its activity there until the 1950s.

In the Church of "San Francesco delle Donne", you will find nowadays the workshop of Giuditta Brozzetti, the oldest fabrics workshop in Europe, making traditional products by hand in wooden ancient looms. Visit: The Giuditta Brozzetti website.

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Original Posts by Roberta Niccacci -

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The Cama Deruta Blog celebrating 10,000 visits!

Become a Friend of Cama on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/friendsofcama

Last night we reached 10,000 visits to our blog started January 2009. 

We are very happy and thankful to our readers. We thank you for your patience in waiting for Cama to resume her work and for enjoying keeping in touch. 

This pause is so important for the health of the workshop and of my family. In this story the only thing we are going to lose is the building of Cama in Deruta on Via Tiberina number 113, which is no longer a valid address. 

What seems to be a loss is going to be an energetic step backwards to run faster and be stronger. The whole story started with the fall of my mother, Elena Niccacci,  in July 2008 and her breaking her femor. 

This event changed my mother's life,  my life and the life of the Cama workshop. 

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Updates: In august 2012 we have reached 24,000 visits! 

Pre-Christian Art: The Peacock and the eternity of life

A ceramics plate with the so called
"peacock feather" pattern
made in Deruta, Italy.

The first Christians used symbols and representations with hidden meanings, because of the fact that it was forbidden to them to worship the images of Christ,  the Virgin Mary and everything that was related to them.

The peacock in pre-Christian art (2nd-4th century A.D.) was the symbol of resurrection, renewal and eternal life. These hidden meanings were inspired by the fact that the peacock loses his feathers in the fall and sees them grow again in the spring therefore replacing them annually.

Additionally -  as a cultural heritage  from ancient Rome mythology -the peacock is linked to the myth of Hera/Juno, the goddess of  sky and stars: the flesh of the peacock does not decay after death, the bird is immortal.

The entrance to the Vatican courtyards are guarded by two bronze peacocks (copies) like in the imagery of the entrance to the Paradise.

The peacocks in the Vatican courtyards.

The original bronze statues from the 2nd century A.D. are safeguarded in one of the aisles of the Vatican Museums. Herewith follows a detail of one of the original statues:

The original peacock from the 2nd century A.D.
(detail) 

The golden reflexions are given by the fact that visitors have been touching the bronze statues of the peacocks for hundred of years to receive good luck!

Bible bestiary: the deer and the Siena pattern

seen in the movie Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), still image of Sally Fields
drinking cappuccino. The cup and saucer was by Cama Deruta.

"Sicut cervus ad fontem" (Roman Latin which translates in English: the same way the deer goes to the fount...) is the beginning of the Psalm of the Bible that has inspired the artists who created the floor of the Cathedral of Siena.

The marble details with the deer are located especially near the altar of the church and when I was a little girl my father Renato Niccacci took me several times to the Cathedral of Siena  to admire this work of art.

Many years ago these marble details were made into a pattern in Deruta and my father was one of the first artists to reproduce it. His black backgrounds are difficult to copy as well as the brightness of the finish. The background is made of all single brush strokes that are hard to detect. His Siena pattern is like a velvet.

This pattern is very elegant and beautiful on the table. Black and white are the official colors of the city of Siena.

Renato Niccacci in the Cama Deruta
uniform at the Dolomites' tour.

One curiousity about the Siena pattern is that the deer was a little slimmer in the 1970s, it has gained some weight as my father did, just a little for his body.

Indeed I am very proud that my father likes sports. He is a bike rider and has been taking part to the tour of the Dolomites, the famous "Dolomiten Radrundfahrt" for 22 years. He has stopped going to the tour in the last three years but he is still exercising and looking forward to going again.

Bello il mio papà! Sweet, elegant and calm like the deer.

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October 22nd, 2011: Deruta Pottery in Seattle, Washington

Hats & Tea
Fashion Show and Silent Auction 

We request the honor of your Presence 

at the Annual Fund raising auction and tea party

upon the First Appointment with Cama Deruta

on Saturday October 22nd, 2011

at Mercer Island Presbyterian Church
3605  84th Ave, SE

Mercer Island, Washington 98040

Please Join Us! 

For more information about the event and registration write to:

staff@churchofmarymagdalene.org

or call (206) 621-8474

Cama Deruta has made a generous donation of beautiful and valuable handpainted cups and saucers to increase financial support to the homeless women and children who comprise the community of the Church of Mary Magdalene and Mary's Place in Seattle. Also featuring a coffee pot, tray and vegatable dish. 

Church of Mary Magdalene and Mary's Place work together to provide day shelter for homeless women and children, offering meals, clothing, hygiene services information and referral to help women out of homelessness. 

www.churchofmarymagdalene.org 

An Ecumenical Ministry with homeless women. 

The hats and tea fashion show started 7 years ago showcasing the beautiful work of Annie De Vuono,  visit: http://www.devuonohats.com. 

Many thanks to Lisa Connolley  for  her cooperation in establishing the connection with the Church of Mary Magdalene/Mary's Place.

Follow Mary's Place on twitter: http://twitter.com/MarysPlaceWA and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/marysplacedaycenter

Become a Friend of Cama by joining the Cama fan page at: www.facebook.com/friendsofcama

an on twitter through Bertabella, our speaker from Renaissance times: www.twitter.com/bertabella

To know more about the Italian tradition of Bellas, visit: www.bertabella.blogspot.com

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If you wish to donate to the Church of Mary Magdalene, follow this link:
Remember to mention that you are a "Friend of Cama".