Deruta ceramics history: The "Fuseruola"

Ancient beads
photo credit: "Ars Umbra"
Cultural Association in Deruta, Italy. 

The so-called "Fuseruola" is a spindle weight, basically a round-shaped ceramics bead (3/4 of an inch wide), that was part of the trousseau of the brides to be in the 16th century in Deruta.  It was considered as a token of love. The original set was composed of the spindle, the spindle weight, and the distaff.

The "Fuseruola" (bead) was technically necessary to balance the spindle. These round spheres were glazed and hand-painted with Renaissance geometric patterns

a key fob with a ceramics
bead, a "Fusolina".

enriched with classical writings in Latin such as "Ars et Amor" (Art and Love), "Omnia Vincit Amor" (tr. Love wins over everything).

Nowadays these ceramics have been brought back to life by their usage in

jewelry for i.e. necklaces, bracelets, pendants, and fobs. In earlier times they were also used for decorating runners and at the end of curtains to keep them straight.

At the Ceramics Museum of Deruta, it is possible to admire an interesting large collection of "Fuseruole" from the 16th century. 

I like to call these beads "Fusoline" ("Fusolina" is the singular), the word comes from "Fuso" that in English means "spindle". It sounds so sweet to my ear.

From the point of view of the love expressions written on the beads, they are almost what they call "Giaculatoria" (tr. short prayer) whose etymology is "Dardo" (tr. dart, arrow), therefore a message that arrives fast to the heart of the receiver, similar to nowadays "SMS"?

(to be continued...follow me on Facebook for updates at the Friends of Cama Page or subscribe to this blog upon your next visit)

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Original Posts by Roberta Niccacci -

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