DERUTA  OF  ITALY  CHINA




From The Very Heart of Italy...Deruta... a tiny hilltop village nestled above the banks
 of the Tiber...lies near the historic city of Perugia, a few kilometers from the
 birthplace of St. Francis of Assisi.

A Way Of Life Since 1358...Deruta has given its name to a splendid heritage of
 hand painted majolica ceramics. "Free-hand" designs that have graced the
 homes of some of Italy's most renowned families for over 600 years.

From earth, fire, water...and loving hands. Delicate and intricate motifs, unusual
 shapes, a subtle rainbow of colors. All are drawn from the artistic tradition
 passed down from father to son.

The most prestigious of these artisan families have united in the Consortium
 Ceramiche Umbre, which enables them to bring the finest expressions
 of their art to America.

What is "majolica"?   Majolica is the word generally used for the enameled pottery
 that has been made in Italy since Renaissance times. The term refers to carefully
 chosen clay wares coated with a solution of white glaze - and also denotes the
 process of painting on the glaze before it is fired into a hard shiny surface. The word
 majolica comes from the Mediterranean island of "Majorca", the stop-over point in the 
15th century for ships carrying their precious "majolica" ware between Italy 
and Spain. Today, designers in Deruta still use the majolica process to create 
striking images on dinnerware and gift accessories.

All ceramics from Deruta of Italy are lead- and cadmium-free. Dishwasher safe
 (preferably on the less intense energy-saving cycle; air dry at end). 
Microwave use not recommended for these fine ceramics.

Due to the special nature of handmade majolica ceramics, it is 
virtually impossible toavoid some variations in surface texture 
such as thin or thick glaze - even occassional"pin holes" and "crazing" - 
which can be a natural result of the firing process.  Andof course 
the hand painting means you will discover slight variances in color and
brush strokes, which only enhance each piece, rendering it a 
unique work of art.