Antica Fornace Deruta of the Baiano Family
A bit of history of the Baiano-Margaritelli family and how it is an integral part of the production of artistic ceramics in Deruta, yesterday and today.
Image of the factory in Deruta
Main entrance to the factory
The foundation of the factory and the role of Giovanni Baiano's family
In 1904 a great uncle of the family, Benedetto Angeluccetti, was one of the founders of the Società Anonima Maioliche located in via El Frate, in the historic center of Deruta. In the following years, grandfather Ugo Baiano, uncles Cesare Margaritelli, Eugenio Margaritelli. Andrea Margaritelli and other relatives worked in the large factory as painters and managers. His father, Francesco Baiano, joined it in the 1940s and in the 1950s he became production manager.
Francesco Baiano in the Sample Showroom of the factory.
The relocation of the factory and its closure
In 1955 the factory moved to the new headquarters in via Tiberina, in a modern and innovative structure, continuing the production between tradition and innovation. It worked at this pace until the late 1970s when trade union, financial and political problems forced it to close.
The construction of the new factory at the new location.
Francesco Baiano in the Offices of the factory.
The family starts their own shop
We set up the museum and started the business following the closure of the factory. Father Francesco took his share of the Società Anonima Maioliche and a large part of the factory's sample room, which included in addition to majolica, drawings, watercolors and projects of great artistic value and continued the production of ceramics that still carry on the tradition and innovation of the Società Anonima Maioliche.
Giovanni and Francesco Baiano, father and son, in their family museum displaying the samples and prototypes from the factory.
The ancient kilns from the 15th century.
The discovery of the ancient kilns
Francesco Baiano lived with his aunt Guendalina as a child in his great uncle's house, a few steps from the Società Anonima Maioliche. In this house in 1600 there was a tower. Within this, during the restoration work in the 80s, we made an exceptional discovery. In fact, two majolica kilns dating back to 1400-1500 have been found, mysteriously hidden by arches and plasters. After months of restoration they can now be visited by scholars, tourists and interested people. The discovery allowed us to be included in the museum circuit of our city.
Giovanni Baiano at the inauguration of his ancient kilns as part of the museum system of the Regional Museum of Ceramics in Deruta.
Inside the shop you can see the merchandise, the ancient kilns and the antique collection.
Outside the shop you can see the famous mosaic fragments of the traditional patterns of Deruta.
The fragments discovered in the kilns
We recovered several fragments of pottery during the excavation of our kilns located under our house which has been owned by the Baiano family since the Middle Ages. Pieces of majolica ranging from the fourteenth to the seventeenth century and represent the original designs of Deruta and the evolution of the forms, models and techniques of Deruta ceramics over time. Initially there were only a few colors, such as green and manganese. With the discovery of new pigments, during the Renaissance, ceramic designs acquired colors such as cobalt blue, orange and yellow, which were created using mineral oxides. These new colors gave life to the beauty of Deruta's motifs, not only gothic, geometric and calligraphic, but also to designs such as "Deruta classico" inspired by the artist Pietro Vannucci known as "Perugino" and his pupil, Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino for the "Raffaellesco" decoration, both at the height of the Italian Renaissance.
Fragment of the Archaic style using copper green and manganese colors from the 1300s.
Fragment of the Gothic style also known as peacock feather from the 1400s.
Fragment of the Geometric style of the Renaissance period in the 1500s.
Fragment of the Floral style of the Renaissance in the 1500s.
Fragment of the Grotesque style of the Renaissance in the 1500s.
Fragment of the Calligraphic style with flora and fauna in the 1600s.
An honorary plate with an historical synthesis of the designs of Deruta.
The Renaissance painters created artistic designs on maiolica and have become the traditional patterns
In 1500 during the Renaissance, which meant a new birth especially in reference to the arts and civilization, many artists drew inspiration from the history and culture of ancient Greece and Rome. Both Pietro Vannucci, known as “Perugino”, and Raphael Sanzio, his pupil, visited the small hill village of Deruta since it is located not far from Perugia and was already famous at the time as the seat of majolica production. A fresco by Perugino depicting San Rocco and San Romano, now visible in the Municipal Art Gallery of Deruta, has a view of the town painted under the two characters.
Fresco of San Rocco and San Romano painted by Perugino with a detail representing the town of Deruta.
Classic Deruta
Among the figurative representations of the frescoes of the Nobile Collegio del Cambio in Perugia there is also an elaborate fantastic decoration of the helmets and heraldry painted by Perugino. His majolica designs are said to have been inspired by his own painting and are known as Classic Deruta or Ricco Deruta.
A fresco of ancient heroes and philosophers with floral decorations in helmets and headpieces by Perugino (including a self portrait of the artist) located in the Nobile Collegio del Cambio in Perugia.
Design of inspiration from Perugino.
Raphaelesque or Grotesque
It is said that Raphael visited the ruins of many ancient Roman palaces and villas, the most famous of which is the "Domus Aurea," the "Golden House" that the emperor Nero had built in Rome. The study of the wall paintings, sculptures and floor mosaics found in his underground caves was a powerful source of inspiration for Raphael and his artistic design on majolica, which in fact reproduces an unusual monster, half human or dragon, called Grotesque or Raphaelesque.
Frescoes in the Domus Aurea in Rome that inspired artists of the Renaissance.
Design of inspiration of Raphael.
Deruta yesterday and today continues the tradition
A town where the artisans create objects of beauty for your home.
Deruta - one of the most beautiful hill towns in Umbria, Italy.
Antica Fornace Deruta Giovanni Baiano, Via Fabbretti 5, 06053 Deruta PG Italy, Tel +39 392 525 8777
Email: anticafornacederuta@libero.it Website: www.derutagifts.com P.Iva. 01920740543 Arte Ceramica