Artisans

Sambuco

Mario and Iliana Sambuco operate their factory located in lower Deruta. Sambuco is best known for their 3-fire, 18-carat, gold-leaf firing process. With this technique, Sambuco creates stunning yet durable products such as vases, tureens, and coffee and tea services. They also have the most beautiful religious articles.

Below Left: Iliana. Below Center: Mario Sambuco. Below Right: Giovanni and Mario next to Sambuco’s “Rubino e Oro” collection. Beneath left: “Rubino e Oro” Decorative Vase (VSHRUB3320GS), middle: 58cm Raffaellesco Anfora (ANFRAF582301), right: Religious chalice (special order).

Below are some more products from Sambuco: Gold Leaf Autumn Coffee Pot (CPTAUG152001), a small “Blu e Oro” Sugar bowl/Urn (SGBBLG1416HD) and a Blue and Gold wall clock (CLKBLG4128BW)

NINCI

Massimiliano Ninci lives outside of Montelupo just to the north of San Gimignano in Tuscany. His signature painting styles of grapes, lemons, olives and pomegranates bring the Tuscan landscape directly to your home. Colorful landscapes surrounded by cedars, poppies, sunflowers and vineyards reach into the Amalfi countryside where he was raised. Immediately below, Mary Johnson and Massimiliano are shown here in Assisi where they met for the first time in the ceramic shop of AngelloBalla. They are holding up the 52cm Pomegranate platter (item number: PLTPOM0052NN).

Below: Giovanni Angello visiting Massimiliano at his Ceramics Factory in Certaldo, just south of Montelupo, Italy.

Ninci has a knack for producing very practical items such as olive trays, kitchen canisters, olive oil and vinegar dispensers and cruets as well. Shown below is a Grapes pattern Coffee cannister (JCFGRP201401), Brown Olive Coffee cannister (JCFOLV2014BR), a Green Olive olio dispenser (DOOOLV2012GR), and a Pomegranate olio dispenser (DOOPOM200901).

Ninci is not only famous for his olive design, he is also known for his Lemon designs. Take a look at these lemon plates: White 52cm Tuscany Amalfi Lemon plate (PLTLEM0052NN) and Blue 52cm Tuscany Amalfi Lemon plate (PLTLEMBL52NN).

SERMAT

Located next door to Sambuco, the Matteucci brothers, Emanuele and Alessandro, run their SERMAT factory. Their unique medieval style is unmistakably present in the creations of chess boards, large urns, clocks and centerpieces. SERMAT produces the widest range of floor art and centerpieces that would make any living space come alive and appear more prosperous and timeless. The brothers make shapes and choose colors that are very tied to their style and transcend tradition into a renaissance and medieval past.

SERMAT’s direction into off-center designs has paid off with surreal plates, bowls and clocks. Below: Emanuele (left) and Alessandro (right) holding up a signature 52cm off-center plate (PLTSPL0052GW) at their factory in lower Deruta.

Sermat has branched out into specialty designs and décor such as decorative urns (new product), chess boards (CHSCHK5858YB) and this 52cm shells and dolphin plate (PLTMDV005101).

Featured standing urns and centerpieces are the hallmark of Sermat’s creativity. Below a decorative standing urn (URNMDV9534OR), intricately wound handle centerpiece (CTRSRP3062SM) and fruit bowl centerpiece (CTRRAF2124YB).

Nicolini

Considered a master in his own right, Umberto Nicolini, shown here at age 81 in 2014, was still painting. He was commissioned to reproduce Church Relics by the State of Umbria over 40 years ago until the present. Whether creating a masterpiece brought to you or working in exacting detail on those ancient works, care is given to each paint stroke. The Nicolini factory is run by wife Anna and daughter Maria Rita. The Nicolini factory is located in lower Deruta. Maria Rita is also a very talented artist (her fantastic yellow and green peacock plates anchored their Deruta shop and in Perugia).

Below: Umberto Nicolini puts the finishing touches on a portrait plate. Beneath left: Anna Nicolini and Giovanni Angello. Beneath right: Sara, a painter at the Nicolini factory, paints ceramics boxes.

Nicolini makes the most prestigious penne and peacock designs in Deruta. Shown here are a green peacock plate (PLTPCK0042GR) and a Penne plate (PLTPNE004201).

Nicolini also specializes in clocks and ornaments. The following pictures show a Wood-Framed Delfini style Clock with Gold corners (CLKDLFOR40NC), a Yellow Peacock ornament (ORNPCK0009YL), a Ricco Deruta ornament (ORNRCD000801) and a small ceramic box (BXCCHK040602).

Segoloni

Franco Segoloni, shown below, was a renowned painter in the Umbria region and into Florence and beyond. His son and daughters have followed in his footsteps as creators and curators of this traditional art. The Segoloni family has their small storefront in Deruta run by his daughter Valentina.

We captured Franco detailing a small plate before showing us his amazing famous works (not for sale). Up until his passing, he was contracted out to other manufacturers when extravagant paintings were needed.

Brother Nicola and sister Valentina hold up a Ricco Deruta style figure plate in their store. Both Nicola and Valentina are active members of their community while creating their fabulous products. Sorella Luna has continued to develop a relationship with the Segoloni family and will increase the number of items available to our customers.

Below are views of the Segoloni storefront. The small storefront does not represent the vast product capability of Segoloni. One can see the amazing detail of the figure plates and “peacock” designs.

(Below) Valentina procures part of a Sorella Luna order with identifiable products – most notably: Curved Platter – SG Flowers (PTRFL22848OB), and Botticelli centerpiece (CTRBOT2560FM).

FIMA

FIMA has gained an excellent reputation throughout the U.S. for quality. Their precise paintings are stunning, particularly of the Ricco Deruta, Rafaellesco and Ricco Vario styles. FIMA is the premier factory for Sorella Luna’s exquisite dish and tableware. Sorella Luna has worked with FIMA to develop new styles and new forms that produce unique products for our customers. Special orders are prepared by FIMA with extreme care and detail for our customers.

Below left, a Piside, or urn, is painted for Sorella Luna (Item Number: URNDPH3822RG). Below right, a ceramic teapot top is carefully coated with primer. Wooden boards are often used by the artisan to steady the painter’s hands or to act as a shelf for smaller items after submersion in primer.

FIMA is a favorite among Ricco Vario, Ricco Deruta and Raffaellesco collectors. Below one of FIMA’s 3-piece Ricco Vario dinner settings (PSERCV280703).

Also shown is a beautiful Raffaellesco butter dish (BUTRAF092001) and Ricco Deruta pasta plate (PLPRCD0424CC).

FIMA also creates most of Sorella Luna’s urns. As shown below, FIMA incorporates a wide range of sizes, designs and styles to fit the need of the individual. These include the Rico Vario/Geometrico Urn with handles (URNRCV3825CK), Blue Floral Frutta Urn (URNFRT2818BF)

Gialletti Pimpinelli

First cousins to Antonio and Carlo of Gialletti Giulio and located next door, GP has branched out into their own style of products. Brother and Sister Marco and Silvia run Gialletti Pimpinelli. They have some amazing designs, complimenting their cousins’ beautiful array of art full of flowers, fruit and geometrical patterns. Sorella Luna currently carries several lines of Gialletti Pimpinelli.

Below is a photo of Graziano and daughter Silvia holding a plate with son Marco holding a vase.

Shown below are examples of the famous frutta designs of the GP showroom.

Below Marco and Silvia hold up a beautiful figure plate.

One can see the very delicate balance of color, design and sequence of a figure plate painted by Silvia. The snapshot of the process and delicately glazed skin and hair is captured in the midst of painting.

GP also specializes in big pieces with traditional and modern designs. Shown here is a Ricco Deruta style floor vase (URNRCD6045BY) and a large Bell Planter with a modern design by GP called “Ornato Black”.

Special Orders through GP: Volcanic Rock Tables! Round, Oval, Square and Rectangular

Gialletti Giulio

Located at the end of “Ceramic Row” in lower Deruta, the vibrant Gialletti Giulio ceramic factory has become one of the largest manufacturers of ceramics in the region. Founded by their father Giulio, the factory is now run by sons Antonio and Carlo who are committed to quality and excellence. Their products range from tea-lite candles to huge yard urns. Sorella Luna has an excellent friendship and working relationship with the Gialletti family and business.

Forms are completed while the raw clay is still in the “green ware” stage, meaning it still has moisture content. When trimming and cleaning is completed and smooth or rough to the artists taste, the product is given a first low temperature firing. This first firing is called a bisque firing. Bisque firing has three major purposes: 1) It gives the clay more strength than it would have if just dried, 2) it draws out the water and 3) opens the pores of the clay so that will better accept the first foundation coat, or primer. Here at the primer glazing stage at Gialletti Giulio careful concentration is given to apply a consistent layer of primer coat glaze to an oval tray. It takes a steady hand and much experience to understand the proper amount of primer layer to leave on the product

After the primer glaze has dried, the painting can be applied. Some designs are free-form painting while other more complicated designs may require a guideline drawn first with a special pencil that will not scrape the primer coat. Shown below is the beginning of a bowl painting.

After invading Spain and Italy in the 1200’s, they brought the majolica (Maiolica) technique to particularly the Spanish. Originally, majolica used tin or lead glazes to seal the earthenware, and other earth metals were used for coloring. Although some lead is used in Italy, most artisans do not use lead anymore.

After the painting is completed, the product is now ready for high fire. Temperatures vary from factory to factory, but as a guess, a cone 6 is the average temperature level used for the red porcelain clay.

Below: Examples of two gorgeous plates from Gialetti Giulio.

The following articles are just a small sample of many designs created by Gialletti Giulio. Triple-scroll handled Vase – Melangrano style (URNPOM2845BL), Botticelli scrolled Floor Vase (VASPRW5340FC) and a Limoni Table Pitcher (PITLEM212201).

Beneath: Crane Floor Vase (VASCRN6060YG), and hand built Frutta Fonda Nero floor vase (VASFFN7250RF)

Dolfi

Dolfi is a large ceramics manufacturer of exquisite pieces located in Montelupo of Firenze (Florence). Shown below in their large showroom, Dolfi is owned and operated by Dolfi sisters Natalia and Daria. Dolfi specializes in hand-built products ranging from small tiles to lamps to centerpieces and large floor vases.

Another view of the showroom shows the large variation in handmade craft techniques on several different products.

Shown below are 6 examples of hand built Dolfi pieces carried by Sorella Luna Italian Ceramics:

1) An extraordinarily detailed artichoke cornucopia (CTRART2025AG), 2) An elegant red and 18 karat hand painted 10”x10” tile (TILBALGD20RD), 3) a green and burgundy pine flair vase centerpiece (VASPIN4134GP), 4) a blue pine handled centerpiece (VSHPIN3833BL), a fabulous pomegranate bouquet (CTRPOM2228YO), and this stylish centerpiece art (CTRX833417WH).

FIDIA

Now retired from creating ceramics, FIDIA remains an innovator of other art forms. Located in upper Deruta, FIDIA consists of 10 members of the Veschini family of artisans, notably Attilio and Rossella Quintili. Their unique artistry blended the richness of deep cobalt with geometries and acanthus while resurrecting the delicate Medieval styles. One of the accomplishments of the FIDIA work is the consistency and richness of the glazes. Whereas many artisans may produce works leaving noticeable brushstroke streaks in their background base, FIDIA presents a very consistent deep color background on their art.

A hint of Arabic influence together with perfecting the Lustro firing technique produces ceramic artwork that cannot be found anywhere else. The FIDIA showroom displays many pieces that are over 100 years old. The pictures below show some of the items that are of the Lustro technique.

The Lustro technique involves a variation on the second high fire. To get the lustrous shine as shown in the vase at left, two things are done to maximize the reflection of the product. First, certain glazes are used for their ability to reflect after the process. The most notable are the extract from the Calendula Flower (to induce a lustrous light beige) and Cobalt (to induce a reflective deep blue). After the ceramics have been painted with the select glazes, the second firing is then starved of oxygen, much like (but not exactly like) the Japanese raku technique. The lack of oxygen stresses out the ceramic such that about 40% of the product does not survive the second high firing. This is the main reason why most artisans do not produce lustro products. Because of this fact and the very beauty of

Baffoni

Sabrina Matteucci and Raimondo Baffoni create one-of-a-kind pieces in their fabulous bucchero and unique majolica style art in Gubbio, Italy. They are fun-loving people who work hard and achieve excellence in their art. Sorella Luna is the only retail store in the world besides their gallery to carry Baffoni products. Because their pieces are generally one-of-a-kind, our website has not yet captured individual pieces that have sold. Below, a luncheon with Sabrina Matteucci (front left), Laura Balla (back left), Leona Matteucci (back right) and Giovanni Angello (front right).

Raimondo buys the raw clay and mixes the formulas with tractor buckets for their ceramic base. He also throws and makes the forms and does the firing. Sabrina is the painting artist for both majolica and inlaid platinum glazing. She also has a patented technique for her unique majolica surfaces. Below: Raimondo and Melinda (pug). Beneath: Sabrina and Raimondo’s gallery in Gubbio. Next Page: Giovanni Angello’s personal fish platter made by Baffoni Ceramicha shows the unique surface.

Chiucchiu

Patrizio Chiucchiu, one of the most revered ceramic masters in Deruta, got his inspiration to being a ceramicist from playing around in his backyard as a small boy of 11 years old. Upon finding ceramic shards from vases and plates made over 300 years ago, he at once knew what he wanted to be from that time on. Patrizio still makes all his own glazes from shaving metals and mixing plants and flowers.

While he carries on the traditional motifs in his designs, he has also established his own signature designs and borders. Stunning animal portraits and whimsical insects reside in the oceans and forests against a myriad of Patrizio’s backdrops. Below left: The maestro Patrizio Chiucchiu holding a vase with one of his signature backdrops in red. Below right: an alcove in his small Deruta studio shows unique portraits, lustro vases, and majolica ceramics.

Chiucchiu embraces all aspects of the ceramic artistry. He makes his glazes from metal shavings, flowers and elementary substances. Below: Vases and pitcher showing some of the animals and backgrounds that Chiucchiu draws. Beneath: Chiucchiu’s humble painting station.

Tribute to a Legend – Antonio Margaritelli

While all artisans make rigorous study of technique and science, few, if any, rise to the masterful accomplishments of Antonio Margaritelli. He was joined by his wife, who has unparalleled painting ability in her own right. The Margaritelli ceramic shop was located in the upper Deruta central town. Sadly, his passing will be remembered.

As a small boy, Antonio had been fascinated with ceramics by finding centuries-old artifacts around his neighborhood. This forged his trajectory into becoming a world-renowned ceramicist keeping Deruta as the center for Italian Ceramics.

Antonio is seen here below showing his childhood prize findings with Sorella Luna associate Kim Posey. Below, he shows how he has incorporated the original artifact glaze color into a precious plate.

This very happy owner takes home a treasure.