Deruta symbols

 

Raphael -
Saint Catherine of Alexandria

Herewith follows a list of symbols that I selected for you as symbols of Deruta:

The most important symbol of Deruta is the wheel. It is the symbol of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, who was tortured on a wheel. The wheel is the most important tool for creating everything that is round shaped in ceramics from the lump of clay.

Saint Catherine is the Saint protector of ceramicists and the Saint patron Day is November 25th. All workshops and shops in Deruta are closed on this day.

Saint Catherine of Alexandria was a very popular saint in the Renaissance period.

The plant of the rue in the Deruta
coat of arms (detail)

Another symbol of Deruta is the plant of the rue ("Ruta" in Italian) as per the coat of Arms of the City of Deruta. To me this is the true origin of the name "DE RUTA" rather than from "Destroyed". Who wants to visit a town that is destroyed?

Have you seen the most recent movie with Nicholas Cage called "Season of the Witch"? You may see what the plagues were like.

Raffaellesco by Cama, artist Elena Niccacci

A third symbol of Deruta is the dragon of the famous historical pattern known as "Raffaellesco", which takes inspiration from the grotesques painted by the artist Raffaello Sanzio (Raphael) in the Vatican rooms. On his turn he was inspired by the Domus Aurea (Golden home) of Emperor Nero. The pattern dates back to the second half of the 16th century.

For more about the grotesques go to this link in this blog.

Renaissance lovers' cup
from Deruta

The symbol of the city of Deruta in the advertisements is the vase called "gamelio"  (photo) which is a Renaissance lovers'cup and specifically in the luster technique. The lovers' cup was the gift of men to their beloved for special occasions such as engagement and wedding and was selected among several shapes. This vase can be found in ceramics plaques in the edicules of the town of Deruta and on the city flags.


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Curiosity:
Nicholas Cage has purchased Cama products in the past, in particular the Raffaellesco goblets by Elena Niccacci either from Biordi's in San Francisco (Biordi Art Imports in San Francisco still has Cama pieces in stock) or from the Cottura stores in Los Angeles (wonderful stores no longer in business and Cama is proud to be among their suppliers). We would like to invite Nicholas Cage to one of our events in the United States in the future as guest star. Do you like Nicholas Cage?

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Original Posts by Roberta Niccacci -

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Pinturicchio: the artist of the details and of little things

Ceramics reproduction of
a Renaissance broche
originally painted
by artist Pinturicchio. 

Pinturicchio is one of the artists who inspired the ceramics of Deruta along with Perugino as local artists. Pinturicchio was born in Perugia in 1452 and died in Siena in 1513.

He is famous for the details of his works that you may admire in the Cathedral of Siena (on the left side of the Church, the so called "Studio Piccolomini" which is stunning) and in Spello in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore (on the right side of the street going up to the top of the town) in the Cappella Baglioni as an example as well as at the Umbrian National Gallery in Perugia.

In 2008  upon the celebrations for the 550th anniversary of his birth, Cama reproduced one of his broches, which in the Renaissance was synonymus with virtuosity. Men and women wore broches equally.