Chuffed about ceramics (A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins With ... Too Much Luggage)

Chuffed about ceramics

I have been a woeful correspondent in these last few days of my Italian trip. I've been distracted by much shopping, eating and admiring of some of Florence's great art. And tomorrow, alas, I wrap up this trip.

But I just had to say a few words about what a fabulous day I had on Thursday, in Deruta (of all places!) I hadn't really planned to visit Deruta, the small Italian city that I believe is one of the great centres of Italian ceramic production. I had a definite plan to shop for ceramics during this trip, but with close to 200 ceramic shops, I feared Deruta itself would be way too intimidating.

However, this day demonstrated yet again that sometimes during travel, the things we don't expect to happen, or that we expect will be awful, actually prove to be quite the reverse.

Fellow Slow Travel blogger Mary T., a creator of the beautiful Genius Loci agriturismo near Bevagna, took me under her wing and we spent a really delightful day in Deruta (now that's a phrase I didn't think I would ever write!)

With Mary's help, I visited a few very good ceramics shops on Deruta's main drag and I found several pieces that I think I'll really enjoy, while shopping at a lovely family-owned shop, Gialletti Giulio. After a tour of the workshop to see just how these pieces are created and carefully hand-crafted, I bought four plates and two bowls that I can use for every day. (Before the trip, I had decided I wanted to find things that I would really use in daily life, I didn't want to buy pieces that I would save for "special occasions" which rarely seem to happen!)

I will post pictures when my small shipment arrives (and I think had better carefully re-read Jerry's Slow Travel postings about his adventures in shipping ceramics!) The pattern I ultimately chose is beautiful but certainly wasn't what I initially had in mind! I also couldn't resist picking up a few other unusual pieces, including several very small bowls for either kitchen prep or serving, and some lovely utensils with hand-painted ceramic handles. These, I'm going to pack and hope for the best!

After shopping, Mary then took me to a great restaurant a few miles from town, L'Antico forziere, where we had a fantastic lunch and the most beautiful dessert I have ever seen. Amazing attention to detail (and I think I'll have to post a photo of this!)

My only regret is that I didn't buy a really beautiful, hand-painted Renaissance display plate, a real work of art, at the final shop we visited in Deruta. I keep thinking about this shop, where Mary knew the Maestro quite well (and she also helped translate for an American couple who were commissioning a special piece.)

I guess this means I must return to Umbria, and soon!

Posted to by Sandrac on September 28, 2008 10:27 AM
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Comments (10)

VickyP:

Glad to read that you had a successful ceramics encounter! I'm looking forward to seeing what designs you ended up with. Your trip's gone so quickly! Welcome home, if you read this after you return.

Posted by VickyP | September 28, 2008 2:22 PM

Posted on September 28, 2008 14:22

Mary Tacconi:

We did have a great day. I enjoyed it so much.
Have a good flight home!
Mary

Posted by Mary Tacconi | September 28, 2008 4:41 PM

Posted on September 28, 2008 16:41

Jerry:

What a wonderful day! I can't believe that your trip is coming to an end soon. Enjoy those last few days.

Posted by Jerry | September 28, 2008 4:59 PM

Posted on September 28, 2008 16:59

Brad'll Do It:

A personal guide to the better shops of Deruta with a memorable lunch destination? You ARE special, Sandra, as is your guide, the fabulous and wonderful Mary T. We had to do Slow Travel research to find the best shops in Deruta, and even then we bought from a vendor who was "less than timely" in fulfilling our order.

There's always a piece you wish had purchased, but as you so perceptively noted above, that wish provides an excellent reason to return (as if one needed a reason to return to Italy).

And as far as returning home - as we like to say: "Re-entry is a bitch."

Posted by Brad'll Do It | September 29, 2008 11:08 AM

Posted on September 29, 2008 11:08

Kathy (Trekcapri):

Hi Sandra, I can't wait to see your beautiful ceramics! Sounds like you had a really fun day of shopping and with some very nice company.

Thanks for letting us share in your experiences. Enjoy the rest of your trip.

Posted by Kathy (Trekcapri) | September 29, 2008 11:09 AM

Posted on September 29, 2008 11:09

Annie:

I can't wait to see what you ended up buying! Sounds like it was a fun and easy shopping trip, which is great. Safe travels home!

Posted by Annie | September 29, 2008 12:29 PM

Posted on September 29, 2008 12:29