Deruta: A Tradition of Italian Ceramics – Elizabeth Helman Minchilli (1998)
This richly illustrated volume celebrates the centuries-old artistry of Deruta, the Umbrian hill town renowned for its exquisite maiolica ceramics. Minchilli, an expert on Italian decorative arts, traces Deruta’s craft from its Renaissance golden age—when its workshops produced lustrous istoriato (narrative) plates for noble patrons—to its 20th-century revival as a global hub of hand-painted earthenware.
The book explores:
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Techniques: The signature copper-green and cobalt-blue glazes, raffaellesque motifs, and gold-leaf accents.
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Iconic Patterns: From the arabesque Bella Donna to grotesque cherubs inspired by Raphael.
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Modern Masters: Profiles of families like Graziani and Ubaldo Grazia, who keep traditions alive.
With lush photography of plates, tiles, and apothecary jars, this is both a visual ode and a historical deep dive.
“Where earth, fire, and brushstrokes turn clay into heirlooms.”
A cornerstone for collectors of Italian ceramics.
