Majolica, Maiolica, Majoliche and Maioliche

Andrea della Robbia, 1435-1525
carried on the family tradition
started by his uncle Luca. They
created a new ceramics product
with secret recipes. 

The letter "J" is an old fashioned way of writing the letter "i" in Italian, therefore the word maiolica can be written either ways: Majolica or Maiolica. Of course "Maiolica" is more modern. The sound in Italian of the letter "j" is the same as the letter "i".
The other two options (Majoliche and Maioliche) is the plural of the original word.

Maiolica is a specific kind of ceramics. Indeed ceramics is the name of the group of manufacts which originate from clays that can be either caolin (used for porcelains), gres (used for tiles) and any other clays, such as the porous clay that we specifically use in Deruta, which is originally of grey color and turns reddish when it is fired.

Therefore maiolica is a ceramic based on a this specific porous clay, fired, glazed, handpainted, sprayed with a see-through glaze and fired again. So to say it is the process itself that defines the general name of the ceramic product, because each clay is different and receives various treatments.

A beautiful example of Maiolica translated into art is the work of the  Della Robbia family from Tuscany, if we want to mention other maiolicas besides Deruta, Italy and  located in the Umbria region.

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One of the historical patterns of Deruta, Italy, called Raffaellesco
and a classical example of majolica. The water painting is effected
on a white glazing.  

Hand-painted Animals from the Parish of Deruta

The Dove of Peace in the Garden of the Parish in Deruta

The sheep and the wolf with the Basilica of Assisi in the
background

A frog and a beautiful acanthus leaves detail!

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The Tau is the symbol of Saint Francis of Assisi. My photos above are casually in the shape of a Tau with the Dove of Peace on top. The ceramics paintings above date back to the 1930s. 

Deruta ceramics: The Renaissance Loving Cups

If you wish to know more about Renaissance tokens of Love visit my first blog: www.bertabella.blogspot.com 

Detail of a Loving Cup
Credit: VAM London

In Italy at the end of 15th century gentlemen started offering ceramic loving cups (or gifts of love) to their beloved on specific occasions: weddings, engagements, baby showers and ballrooms. These pieces usually depicted a female bust and a flying ribbon around it with the compliments "bella" (beautiful) or "gentile" (kind).

Writings were various: “Be Ludovica”,”Lorenza B”, “Maria”, “La Giulia Bella”. Sometimes we find writings like ”Orelia B e Momolo suo servo“(tr. Orelia B and Momolo her servant), “Memento”, where “Be” and “B” stand for “Bella”.

In the early examples and later on we may find the name of the sweetheart only or symbols like the heart perforated by a spike, the heart in flames or the two hands tightened together. 

The origin of the loving cups is related to the change of attitude towards beauty and love in these centuries. Love was no longer concealed like it was in the Middle Ages and men wanted to make it eternal and show their feelings.

Loving cups were produced in several shapes, such as plates, spout pitchers, soup cups, amphoras, double handled vases and salt containers. According to the festivity each loving cup had a different shape and usage.

As an example the loving cup as a memento of the ballroom was filled with almond candies and sweets and it was dedicated to a young lady. Apparently this is how the tradition of favours started.

On the contrary the loving cup for the bride was accompanied by a tablecloth with an equal inscription. The married couple would drink out of the same cup to ensure fertility.

In the Renaissance loving cups became very popular and reached their richest expressions in colours, details and shapes. Local famous artists such as Perugino (1450-1523) and Pinturicchio (circa 1454-1513) were taken as examples.

Local craftsmen took inspiration from these artists and painted beautiful women. They had several examples of “Bella’s portraits so that the commissioners could have a selection to choice from. This might be the reason why many women did not match their real sweethearts.

Portraits were painted in blue, yellow, brown and green on a dark blue ground, and covered with a high sheen glaze.
Classical literature was also a source of inspiration for the floral intricate patterns enriching portraits especially when dedicated to engagements and weddings. Some examples of loving cups are painted with mythological stories with love subjects.

The tradition of loving cups lasted for a long time and we may still find examples in the 18th century. Several changes in styles have occurred. Interesting pieces may be found in private collections and museums.

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The last decades of the 15th century were celebrating the end of the plagues in Deruta and new horizons  for the ceramics industry from the political and economical point of view. 

Deruta history: The Plagues

A detail of the fresco with the writing:

“DECRETO PUBLICO DE(R)UTA ANNO DNI MCCCCLXXV(II/III)"
(tr.public decree of the town of Deruta in the A.D. 1477-1478).

The last plague devastating Deruta in the second half of the 15th century dated back to 1476. The Deruta community celebrated the end of the sufferings with the order of a votive offering (ex voto) to the artist Pietro Perugino in 1477-1478 and portraying the Saints protectors Rocco and Romano, which are considered as anti-pestiferous.

The artwork is a fresco which has been in the Church of Saint Francis until recent times, when it has been detached and transported to the Deruta Painting Gallery. A beautiful band in the fresco portraits the landscape of the town of Deruta (see photo). 

It is also part of the recent history of Deruta the attribution of the fresco to Pietro Vannucci, known as "Perugino" by Professor Pietro Scarpellini, leading expert of Perugino's art and life and great professor of the University of Perugia. The painting was formerly ascribed to artist Fiorenzo di Lorenzo.

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Professor Pietro Scarpellini passed away in 2010 at the age of 83. He has been one of the most important scholars of the town and of the University of Perugia. He was my professor of Medieval and Modern Art. 

De (the) Ruta: the plant of Antique Castle Walls

The stylized flower
of the blooming "Ruta"

The Coat of Arms of
Deruta

In the coat of arms of Deruta, on top of the castle there is an example of the plant of the "Ruta".

The common "Ruta" whose original name in Latin is "Ruta graveolens", when blooming  looks a lot like the flowers of the "Ricco Deruta" and "Raffaellesco" patterns, which are the historical Deruta designs.

The "Ruta" plant is a medicinal herb and at the time was considered as a protection against the plague.

In fact Deruta in the second half of the 15th century was repeatedly devastated by this mortal illness.

The detail of the plant of
"Ruta" (Tr.Rue) on top of
the castle

In the coat of arms guide line it is stated that the Deruta symbol of the plant must be represented on top of the tower by three small twigs of this shrub, that grows on  the rocky walls of the Castle of Deruta.

The origin of the name of the town of Deruta has several thesis and this is our favorite one!

The English name for the common Ruta is "Rue" and is also known as "Herb of Grace".


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Saying:" La Ruta ogni malanno spegne" (tr. the Rue is the freedom from any diseases).

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Deruta ceramics: The Renaissance Plate of Saint Claire of Assisi

The Renaissance plate
of Saint Claire

One of the most recent acquisitions of the Ceramics Museum of Deruta is a ceramics plate dating back to the Renaissance with the image of Saint Claire.

The Ceramics Museum art historians found this plate in a flea market, nowadays trendy for shopping.

The name of the Saint is written on the flying ribbon in the same style of  the Loving cups. The flying ribbon is also called "banderole".

Saint Claire founded the order of the "Clarisse" (poor Claires) but in Assisi it is possible to find many different orders of monasteries, among which several ones are open to hospitality in their "foresteria".

Our region is also the land of Benedictines, that we like in particular for their motto "Ora et Labora" (tr.pray and work). Saint Benedict is the Saint Patron of Europe and was originally from the town of Norcia, which is worth visiting.

The Saint Francis Aedicule: detail of the Red Flags

Detail of the ceramics plaque of the Saint Francis Aedicule in Deruta

The red flag on the left carries the symbol of the Tower (the original coat of arms of the town of Deruta before the addition of the griphon) and the red flag on the right carries the symbol of the Vase with handles (still in use for advertising Deruta ceramics).

Red flag with the Tower

These details and colors are "bellissimo"! 

When I first visited the United States I thought that the refraction of  light was different than in Italy. All the colors seemed brighter to my eyes! I still think that this is the reason why Americans like striking colors for their ceramics. 

Indeed the most popular Deruta patterns in the United States are the so called "Geometric Patterns", which are very colorful. The history of the geometric patterns is very recent and finds its origin in the simple patterns painted by ceramics apprentists to learn the ceramics art since the Renaissance times. It is thanks to the talent of Mr. Franco Mari, artist in Deruta,  that the Geometric patterns were first launched in the United States market in new and rich original versions, which were immediately appealing to the public.

Red flag with the Vase

Nowadays contractors without scruples, ex Franco Mari workers and others are producing the original Franco Mari Geometric patterns. In the meantime Mari has gone a step forward and created new and more intricate patterns. But his first patterns are still the best sellers. At least the new producers could pay a royalty to Franco Mari but in Deruta the rule is "Mors tua, vita mea" (tr. your death is my life), therefore it is not necessary to go too far to find unfair competition, rather than in the fakes from abroad or in the decals (which serve completely different markets like chain stores, unreliable retailers or trap shops depending on the level of distortion).

The same destiny is now expecting the traditional Cama patterns. The Cama tracing papers are now being reproduced without the company's consent and I can tell you, this breaks your heart. Cama has been copied a lot but noone has ever dared to copy her tracing papers. This is why I am on Franco Mari's side. Patterns interpretations belong to their creators and for their artists they are priceless.

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Very delicate issue (double red flag!) but the point is:  how can we fight for a better world if we let business overcome  values? Saint Francis is a testimonial of the attitude of respect of  values as regards to business. 

A famous witch from Deruta: La Strega Matteuccia

Deruta has got several satellite villages in its territory that belong to its Municipality. One of them is the village of Ripabianca, famous for its ceramics large oil containers and planters, which are made of unpainted sealed bisqueware.

One of its citizens in the Renaissance was the witch Matteuccia, who unfortunately for her was born in the wrong times and was burned in the main square of Todi in 1428.

Witches of modern times

She was a famous sorceress at that time and had a large clientele from all over the places, because she was well known for her healing remedies based on herbs and enchanted potions.

Twelve days after Christmas in Italy, on January 6th we celebrate the Epiphany which is  both a religious and a pagan holiday.  On behalf of the secular side of the holiday on this day witches called "Befana" are all over Italy to forward gifts to children. 

The Epiphany is the last holiday of the calendar before Easter, which gives the start to the new season of holidays and solemnities, starting  the new cycle of life with the rebirth of nature through springtime. 

Life, nature, seasons and human relationships are common fonts of the religious and of the pagan holidays which run parallel in Italy. The most beautiful number the two celebrations of life have in common is the sacred number 12 (i.e. twelve apostles, 12 months, 12 days, 12 stars crowning the Virgin Mary in the book of the Apocalypse).

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Ripabianca is now under the territory of Deruta and as a consequence under the district of Perugia but in the Renaissance this village was under the district  of the town of Todi.

Curiosity:
The most recent movie about witches has been released this year starring Nicholas Cage, Cama customer since 1993. The title of the movie is "Season of the witch". The movie gives us an idea of what the world looked like in the 1400s with impending plagues.

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Meniconi-Dolgorouki Wedding Gift made in Deruta, Italy

Deruta Wedding Gift Plate
Credit: Ceramics Museum of Deruta 

 DESCRIPTION
September 15th, 1903 celebrated the wedding of a member of the Meniconi Family, Counts in Perugia and of an heir of the Dolgorouki family, Princes from Russia. Mr.Luigi and and Mrs.Vanna Andreoli from Perugia ordered their gift for this important occasion in Deruta.

The plate is a photograph like hand-painting of the couple. On your right the Meniconi family's coat of arms (originally Meniconi-Bracceschi). On your left the Dolgoroukis' coat of arms.

Writing upper part of the plate: "NOZZE MENICONI-DOLGOROUKI XV SETT MCMIII" (tr.Nuptials Meniconi-Dolgorouki 15th of September 1903);

Writing lower part of the plate: "LUIGI E VANNA ANDREOLI OFFRONO" (tr. gift from Luigi and Vanna Andreoli).

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Deruta pottery history: The aedicule of Saint Francis

In the year 1220 Saint Francis was on his way to France.
A detail of the ceramics decor of the aedicule. 

The third and last entrance to the town of Deruta, also known as the Castle of Deruta, is the "Porta Perugina" (Perugia Entrance door) which belongs to the contrade "Valle".

On the street that takes to this entrance from the main street, there is a lovely aedicule dedicated to Saint Francis. We show here a detail of the landscape of Deruta which is supposed to portrait the town in 1220, six years before the passing of Saint Francis (The Saint is praying on the right side of the ceramics plaque). 

From the plaque, which is part of the aedicule's ceramics decoration, we notice four sites of smoke and red flags. Hopefully the town was not on fire or subject to any invasions, supposedly the smoking areas are meant to be the exhausts from the kilns operated by wood supply.

But from what we know the first document evidencing the trading of ceramics from Deruta to the town of Assisi goes back to the year 1282 (a supply of pitchers to a convent of friars). This is the earliest date to which goes back the ceramics tradition of Deruta.

Therefore we go for the option of the implanted memories of the ceramics artist of the time, Mr. Amerigo Lunghi who painted the ceramics plaques and tiles on September 1927, who gave us for granted that ceramics factories already existed in Deruta at the time of Saint Francis.

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"Pax et Bonum" (Peace and Goodwill)  is the saying invented by Saint Francis and is also the blessing that friars still use when taking leave.                            

Deruta famous factories : "Società Maioliche Deruta".

The Castle of Deruta (downtown) in 1940.

Walking from the main entrance of the town of Deruta towards Castelleone, on the right side of the street we  may admire an aedicule for the prayer with a beautiful ceramics plaque of Deruta.

The buildings represent private homes and Churches in the upper part of town and the ceramics factories, which at that time were located downtown Deruta (1940), in the lower part of the plaque.

Detail of the plaque

The buildings that belong to the "Società Maioliche Deruta" factory are the five annexes in the lower row of the ceramics plaque, which are designated with the following descriptions (from left to right):
1. magazzino - reparto tornianti (warehouse - handthrowing area);
2. magazzino - reparto pittori (warehouse - painters area);
3. majoliche - direzione (factory head offices);
4. reparto pittori - reparto vernici - reparto terra (painting room - glazing room - greenware room), forno a   legna (kiln by wood);
5. reparto formisti (shaping room) - reparto stampatori (moulding room).

The logo of the "Società Maioliche Deruta"
factory, a vase dated 1358. 

The "Società Maioliche Deruta" factory is no longer in business but has contributed immensily to the growth of the art of Deruta.


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The main gate to the town of Deruta is the Gate of  St. Michael the Archangel (Piazza district). The other gates are the Gate of the Borough  or Todi Gate (Borgo district) and the Perugia Gate  (Valle district) for a total of three gates.

Deruta historical sites: the majolica portal of the "Società Maioliche Deruta"

                        
                         

SUMPTUOUS  ENTRANCE TO THE WORLD OF MAJOLICA

The "Società Maioliche Deruta" was originally located downtown Deruta, where the factory started its ceramics production in 1904. We can still admire the company's main entrance in one of the boroughs surrounding the town's piazza. The ceramics portal is magnificent. It is paved by square ceramics tiles carrying the city Perugia & Deruta coat of arms on both sides. 

On the portal's top,  a plate with the portrait of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, patron saint of ceramicists. Along with it the latin word "Prudentia" (tr.Prudence). 

The name "Società Anonima Maioliche" (tr."Anonymous Company Majolicas") stands out in the lintel/architrave's center, under St.Catherine's protection. This name was the company's trading name. The original full name of the company was "Società Cooperativa per la Fabbricazione delle Maioliche" (tr."Cooperative company for the majolica production"). 

                                                                                
CITY COAT OF ARMS: PERUGIA & DERUTA

A detail of the ceramics tiles with the
city coat of arms of Perugia and Deruta

The coat of arms of the city of Perugia is represented by a rampant  griphon. The coat of arms of  Deruta contains the following  elements: the tower, a rampant griphon (an homage of Perugia to the  castle of Deruta). On top of the tower the herb called "Ruta" (rue). This plant grows on the antique walls of Deruta and gives the name to the town itself, according to a disregarded theory.

Majolica handpainted tiles were a best seller of the company "Società Maioliche Deruta" for many decades. Historically the Deruta ceramic tiles tradition  goes back to the 15th and 16th century.

              
UNDER SAINT CATHERINE OF ALEXANDRIA'S BLESSING

The factory's ceramic portal is pervaded by raised acanthus leaves which are a Deruta classical element, in particular in the historical "Ricco Deruta" pattern and its variations.

The portal won an important prize, the Gold Medal at the Faenza International Exhibition of 1908.

Nowadays the majolica portal and the trading name "Società Anonima Majoliche" belong  to a private owner. The ancient factory has been trasformed into private apartments.

A detail of the portal with the portrait of Saint Catherine
on a plate set like a gem in the ceramics wreath.

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Deruta history: the handmade sandals of Saint Francis

Learn the true story of the Jews
saved in Assisi.

Thinking of the last cobbler left in Deruta, our mind goes to another handmade product that you may find in specialized stores in Assisi: the sandals of Saint Francis.

Apparently these sandals are very comfortable, like a glove and there are many variations to select from.

My favorite sandal store is on the way from the Basilica of Saint Francis to the Piazza del Comune on the left side of the street. It is a historical shoe store of Assisi. An original idea besides the traditional souvenirs of the town.

Part of the history of Deruta is Padre Rufino, father Guardian in Assisi in the Convent of San Damiano. He became famous with the movie called "The Assisi Underground" (1984) and the book written by Alexander Ramati carrying the same title. He used these same sandals to walk from Assisi to Deruta, where his family lived.

These are the sandals that
friars wear in Assisi
all year long.

The movie was by Canon films with famous actors such as James Mason and Ben Cross and what is interesting is the careful reproduction of the life in Assisi and Perugia during the Holocaust. Also the character of Padre Rufino is very faithful to his personality.

As a little girl I remember him as a big and strong man but cheerful and witty at the same time. He had a deep voice. Padre Rufino used to pay visits on a regular base to my great grand father Pompeo Niccacci and his family whom I grew up with. It is thanks to Padre Rufino if we have beautiful cypress trees in the garden of our home. He planted them personally in the first half of the 1970s.

When the movie was released in 1984 padre Rufino had passed away. He had a project in mind for Deruta, an ecumenical center as a meeting point of the Catholic and Jewish religions. The project was never accomplished because of his early death.

Padre Rufino has received the honor of being in the Garden of the Righteous in the State of Israel. He is buried in the Cemetery of Deruta in his family's chapel.        


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Deruta ceramics history: The Borough outside the Walls

Saint Anne, Saint Protector
of Expecting moms.

Borgo Deruta is the lower part of the town of Deruta, short for  "Borough outside the Walls of the Castle of Deruta". To this part of town belongs one of the three entrances to downtown, the "Porta del Borgo" (tr. Borough Entrance door) which oversees the area.

The Borgo is not limited by walls whereas downtown Deruta is and for this reason also known as "Castle of Deruta".

In the Renaissance ceramics workshops were located in the Borgo. Now this area is abandoned but still fascinating. Until recent times the Borgo was also the shopping area of Deruta. At the moment there is only our last Deruta cobbler left.

Part of the Borgo is the Antique Church of Saint Anne. The Church belongs to the private property but is open to the cult. This Church is considered as a place to visit and pray in order to receive fertility.

This is the writing in Latin on the top of the altar of the Church: "Sterilitas fecundata expia - devote felicis - et caroli detira tellis".

Saint Anne is celebrated in Deruta every year on July 26th with a historical market, formerly a farmers' market.

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Saint Anne is the Saint Protector of expecting moms. Reserved parking for moms in front of the Church!

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