Costs of Deruta pottery
 

I'm purposely planning our driving route to take us through Deruta for the express purpose of buying some pottery. Could someone give me a general idea of how much to expect to spend on certain items. For example, a set of salt and pepper shakes, a vase, a platter, or large pasta bowl? I just want to get an idea, so I can figure how much to budget for the Deruta excursion!

I haven't been to Deruta so I can't help you there. And I haven't been to Italy since the elimination of the lira (oh, beautify, lovely lira), but even my Italian friends complain that EVERYTHING in Italy went up, even for the locals.

But... in case this is your first time to Italy... you know you can find incredible pottery just about everywhere in Tuscany and Umbria... really EVERYWHERE in Italy. Each region/village has their own signature patterns. I now have pottery from Positano, Tuscany, Umbria, etc... and I bought some in Bellagio at a store and I think it was actually a Deruta pattern. I started initially collecting just little tiny saucer sized plates initially, then each time I've gotten bolder and bigger pieces. I'm a full-on addict. I have wide feet so this is one Italian vice I can indulge in. LOL

If you're travelling through the area, there's a GREAT pottery store in the town of Pienza which is a lovely little town near where they filmed "The English Patient" Sant'ana in Caprena. I can't remember the name of it but I'm sure it's the only one. I remember thinking that it was the most affordable and best selection of regional patterns I had seen in all 4 of my trips to Italy over the last decade.

Also, Siena has oodles of fabulous pottery. Just wander the streets and you'll find little artist shops and very often you'll find their seconds that look perfect! And there's a fabulous pottery store on the Campo in Siena... come to think of it there are a couple fabulous pottery stores.

I think since Deruta is imported to the US for high profile stores like Wills Sonoma, etc. that their brand might be more expensive across the board. Then again, if you're looking specifically for that Deruta BRAND NAME hand painted on the back of your pottery then you should go to Deruta. Just don't miss all those other beautiful towns.

One idea that you might enjoy if you're on a "driving trip" of Italy... collect the same size piece in all the villages you go to. (Hope this doesn't sound corny like Lucy & Desi collecting rocks.) Like a salad-size plate or a smaller saucer-sized plate... or my personal favorite is they have these little pill boxes in ceramica. They are sometimes $15-20 each and small enough to pack light. I have about 8 of them now and they make a nice little collection. I always look for them when I'm travelling. They're also nice when you'e on a budget and can't get a larger piece.

Another tip... when buying pottery... think about if you'd want them hanging on display. Some places put a hole in the pottery through which they can lace thread or wire. Most places will wrap a wire around the base of the plate... this is a great way. Some of the cheaper pottery I've seen (or non-round plates) don't have enough of a lip around the bottom for the wire to work and they don't have a good way to hang them... so those I have to prop on a plate stand which is less than ideal. I always ask them to put wire on if it isn't there... so that I know it's done properly.

By the way, your last question about how much to budget? Can't help ya there... I'm a pottery addict. I always tell myself I'm going to impose a limit on myself, then get home and wish I had bought "just one more." One time we got home with a piece or two we decided later we didn't like... we just gave them as gifts.

Good luck. Happy honeymoon. Happy pottery hunting.
~kat

Just a clarification about "putting a hole" in the pottery. Obviously, I mean before they fire it they put a hole in the wet clay. But on rereading it that sounded strange.
~k

Scatterfly has set you on the right course. You really don't need to make a specific trip into Deruta to find lovely pottery. We did go to Deruta and found some great stuff (I too am a pottery fiend) but then again we also found wonderful pottery in Todi and Ravello on the Amalfi coast, among other places.

It is not cheap when you buy high quality pieces. We bought some small saucer-sized round and oval plates for hanging on the wall (with hole in back with the wire threaded through, as scatterfly mentions) and they ran from 10 - 20 euros, depending on the intricacy of the painting. A wide soup bowl cost us about 50 euros but it was painted both in the bowl and out, very beautifully.

I went to Deruta a couple of times and YES the prices can be pretty high for some pottery pieces. There were some awesome hand painted wall clocks or large serving plates which costed an arm and a leg, so I ended up getting some mugs and a blue painted tray, so I am sure that if you think of getting sets of salt and pepper shakes (try also the typical water/wine carafes which are neat and pretty inexpensive) or small things like that, it won't be really very expensive.
I noticed that the more expensive pottery shops were in the town centre, so I tried some outside the town and sometimes you can get good bargains.
Depending from how much you are going to shop... expect to spend 100 or 200 euros on the whole.

The Deruta pieces are very expensive. I was there 9 months ago and had been told the prices were less expensive in the lower town than in the higher. I was fortunate to find a small studio with the owner and an artist painting as we walked in. He sold me 3 gorgeous pieces (1 platter, 1 large plate and 1 small plate) for only 27 euros total! I got very lucky because each piece was close to that price but since I had been in his studio for close to an hour and had been chatting, he wanted me to have those 3 pieces. I couldn't be happier - they are displayed proudly on my kitchen wall as daily reminders of my beloved Italia. I have since found many Italian distributors that sell Deruta ceramics in the U.S. and their prices are astronomical per piece. You definitely should go to Deruta to pick out what you want; however, stop in several stores before making your decision so you will get the right price.

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I am not tied to the brand name of Deruta. I just want some lovely Italian pottery. I had heard that the shops on the Amalfi Coast were more pricey. However, we are actually staying in Pienza and will also be visiting Siena, so if those prices will be as good or better, then that would be fabulous and we wouldn't have to make a special trip to Deruta.

I will definitely be adding to my salt and pepper collection. I would also like to bring home a nice platter or serving bowl.

Skatterfly, thank you for the advice on the hanging pieces. I would like to have some plates to hang on the wall in my kitchen. I will definitely keep that issue in mind when shopping. I'm going to budget 200E for pottery shopping and bring back as much as possible!

There are at least 8 manufacturers of ceramics in Deruta--all with different brand names and styles. If you do go, get there before noon or after 3:00.

How fun you're staying in Pienza. I spent about a week near there a couple years ago. It's a great home base. Check out the pottery store... it will give you a sense of other patterns.

the stuff on the Amalfi coast can be expensive, but there are just as many little shops that have lower prices. Just gotta look around. Luckily my husband appreciates (or at least humors) my pottey habit, so he doesn't mind checking each and every store I find.

Have a great trip!
~kat

<i>&quot;I am not tied to the brand name of Deruta. I just want some lovely Italian pottery&quot;</i>

Then, I suggest you forget this unnecessary side-trip. The term &quot;lovely Italian pottery&quot; is relative to your taste and budget. You can find a <i>lovely</i> set of salt and pepper shakes, a vase, a platter, or large pasta bowl in every town in Italy.

If you don't care about high-end quality, the signature of the store stamped on the bottom of each piece, one-of-a-kind pieces and authenticity, or custom orders, why bother with Deruta when there are thousands of shops throughout Italy selling the same mass produced stuff that comes from Deruta anyway? (Although, if you have time to kill, the town of Deruta is unique).

The not-so-big secret is 90% of Deruta's stores sell factory made goods (especially in the lower part of town) and, just because there's some man in the window painting the same piece of pottery he's probably been painting for the last decade, doesn't guarantee his wares are authentic, original, and one-of-a-kind. Practically every storekeeper in Deruta will swear to selling authentic pieces which are painted in the back room. They'll even introduce you to Grandpa, their resident artisan. It's all part of the deception game that has gone on for decades.

Most consumers aren't privy to Deruta's famous deception act, sort of like Murano with glass. And the reason is, most consumers don't care and easily believe what they're told.

Speaking with any retail buyer from a high-end retail store which sells fine ceramics made in Deruta will yield plenty of shopper information that's difficult to find in print. For originality and authenticity a shopper <b>must know where to go in Deruta</b> for true original pieces made and painted by hand. (In my case, knowing the buyer from Tiffany's in NYC helped).

Yes, you can buy these one-of-a-kind, custom-made pieces at wholesale cost and find lovely discontinued pieces from older collections - this is good reason to shop in Deruta but, depending on your budget, some might consider the wholesale prices prohibitive. Everything depends on everything else.