When I traveled to Italy in 2015, I knew I would return home with photographs and wonderful memories. I did not know that some of my favorite reminders of the trip would be pieces of hand-painted pottery from Deruta.
Our group traveled to Deruta by high-speed train for a private tour of a pottery workshop. We watched the entire process, beginning with potters shaping clay on the wheel. We saw the kilns where the pottery was fired and then watched as the finished pieces were carefully painted by hand.
I was especially fascinated by the large spinning turntable the artists used while painting around the edge of a piece. It allowed them to turn the pottery smoothly as they created an even border. Their control and precision were remarkable.
One of the artists was a white-haired gentleman painting a large plate. He worked calmly and confidently, holding the plate steady as he added the delicate design around its edge. Our group stood nearby watching, but he remained completely focused on his work. There was something wonderful about seeing someone with so many years of experience continuing to practice his craft by hand.
As an art teacher, I understood how much skill was required to make the process look so effortless. Watching the pottery being made gave me an even greater appreciation for every finished piece in the showroom.
That did not make choosing what to buy any easier.
There were so many beautiful patterns, shapes and colors. I wanted to bring home much more than I did. The lamps were especially beautiful and were painted in designs similar to the other pieces I chose. I would have loved to purchase one, but shipping something that large and fragile would have been difficult and expensive.
At the time, I was living in my former townhouse, which had a different decorating style from my present home. Looking back, I am not even certain the lamp would be right in my home today. Perhaps it is one of those beautiful things that was meant to remain a memory.
The pieces I did choose were carefully packed and shipped to the United States. They took several weeks to arrive. I remember going to the FedEx office to pick up the package and feeling excited to see everything again. I was also very relieved when I opened it and discovered that every piece had arrived safely.
Today, the pottery moves throughout my home and changes with the seasons.
The ceramic mail envelope occasionally holds mail, although I usually hesitate to fill it. It is simply too pretty to junk up. I want to be able to see the hand-painted design.
The tissue box is one of the most practical pieces I purchased, but it is also beautiful. Sometimes it lives in my guest bathroom and sometimes in my bedroom. I like that it is something I can actually use while still appreciating it as a work of art.
Some of the other pieces are displayed in my bookcase, depending on the time of year. The two hand-painted ornaments come out at Christmas. Unwrapping them each year brings back memories of Deruta, the workshop and the artists we watched.
I still wish I had purchased more, but the pieces I chose have found a place in different rooms and seasons of my home. They are useful, beautiful and inseparable from the memory of watching them being made.
Perhaps someday I will return to Italy and explore another region. Until then, I am happy to have a little piece of Deruta here at home
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