Deruta

Deruta has been producing pottery and ceramics since the 14th Century. Why pottery production is centered on this small town seems to be due to the quality of the local clay. Deruta reached its artistic zenith in the 15th and early 16th centuries, developing tin-glazed maiolica whose decoration was influenced by Raphael's Renaissance grotesque motifs (the ornamental "Raffaellesco" dragon design, inspired by his Vatican frescoes, remains a Deruta trademark today). Ceramics remains the town's defining industry today, and it is still possible to visit artists at work in some of the smaller shops. The larger shops, along the main highway, mainly cater to passing coach parties but to buy the real thing you have to venture up into the hill town. Much of the production is still carried out as a cottage industry. Unbaked pottery is first baked in the ovens and then taken away to be hand-painted, before being returned to the ovens for glazing. The quality of the glaze is a particular feature of Deruta’s pottery.