Classic Deruta Patterns Meanings

Classic Deruta patterns by Cama, setting the trend in the US market in the past 30 years through the store of Biordi's in San Francisco and other famous ceramic specialty stores. 
The Cama Deruta workshop was closed on June 18th, 2011 and looks forward to merging into another workshop to resume her dinnerware production hopefully within 2012. 
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Ricco Deruta - Acanthus leaves, scrolls and flowers taking inspiration from the genius of the artist Perugino, who worked and lived in the city of Perugia. An example of his work is the "Cambio" (exchange office) in Perugia. Historical pattern from Deruta (First half of the 16th century). More popular with the "Star" center version.

Raffallesco - The dragons take inspiration from the Nero home in Rome where artists in the Renaissance went to study the classical themes of the Roman age. Interpretation of the grotesques of Vatican's rooms painted by the artist Raffaello. Historical pattern from Deruta (Second half of the 16th century).

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Each workshop in Deruta offers a different styling and interpretation of the Classic Deruta patterns. Look for the original designs. These patterns are by Cama based on the original Cama tracing papers. 

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Antico Deruta - Created by Cama upon the original tracing papers of Ricco Deruta. On a silver background that soothens the strength of the cobalt blue color.  Cama original pattern. Source of inspiration of all  similar patterns in the market.

Orvieto Green Rooster - Pattern dedicated to the city of Orvieto where the original Middle Age pattern pieces where found in archeological sites. The rooster was added later on by the artists of Deruta.

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Siena - Reproduction of the floor of the Cathedral of Siena. The sitting deer is a symbol of knowledge and elegance. It takes inspiration from the Biblical psalm starting "Sicut Cervus ad Fontes Aquarum" (tr. The same way the deer goes to the water fount"). Black and brown are the colors of the city of Siena.










Arabesco - Mediterranean pattern of Iberian origins. You may find it in Portugal in a very interesting interpretation. This pattern goes back to the 17th century.

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- Original Posts by Roberta Niccacci -

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Deruta patterns: The Singing Rooster

Giuliano de' Medici was awakened by a rooster

and for one time could escape murder.

At CAMA DERUTA one of the traditional patterns was the green rooster. We have always wondered about its origins, especially if we think of pitchers shaped as roosters.

The story we hear in the States is that Giuliano de' Medici from Florence in the Renaissance period was awakened by a rooster and therefore he could escape being murdered.

The story is probably true because Giuliano de' Medici went under several attempts of murder in the city of Florence as well as in the countryside, where he had been hiding from enemies.


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Giuliano de' Medici was the brother of the famous Lorenzo de' Medici and he was only sixteen when their father Piero died.

Indeed the two brothers took over the power in the city of Florence right after their father's death and opponent parties tried to kill them several times.

In 1478  the "Pazzi" family conspired against Giuliano and Lorenzo in repeated attempts to eradicate their power. On one of these occasions, Giuliano was murdered in the Cathedral of Florence, and his brother Lorenzo was left wounded. Giuliano was only 25 years old when he died.

Coat of arms of Giuliano de'
Medici's family. 

The reaction of the city of Florence was unexpected towards conspirators. The population of Florence got furious and attacked the Pazzi family's members as well as their accomplices with heavy consequences. As a result, the Medici family remained in power. 

However, with the death of Giuliano de' Medici, the flourishing Renaissance world of arts lost one of his most passionate and youngest partons. 

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If we think of Greek mythology , the rooster is the sacred symbol of Mercury and we feel this adds meaning to our curiosity: Rooster=green= good luck. Green is also the color of Venus, it means beauty.

The singing rooster can be found on vintage Deruta plates with a note of the pentagram ("DO di petto= C in English). Color variations of the rooster pattern are red and blue. But green is still the predominant color. 

This pattern is also known as the "Orvieto" pattern because it is dedicated to the town of Orvieto, where there is a ceramics tradition producing a distinctive green leaves pattern. Deruta artists added the rooster to the original Orvieto leaves pattern in the 1920s, a very fertile revival period of Deruta ceramics. The Green Rooster pattern is the most medieval of all Deruta patterns because it carries fewer colors than the Renaissance traditional patterns, namely Ricco Deruta and Raffaellesco. 

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The Cama rooster pattern is the best! It is painted by my father Renato who has learned from the great artists of Deruta. The rooster is lively just like my father's personality. There is lots of love in it! Renato Niccacci is also the artist of Arabesco Verde and Siena black and white designs.

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posted by Roberta Niccacci

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