Deruta Ceramics Museum

Description

Established in 1898 by a group of local notables, the Deruta Ceramics Museum (PG) is the oldest ceramics museum in Italy. It has been housed in the restored 14th-century Convent of St. Francis since 1998. The ground floor holds a library dedicated to the history of ceramics, with over 1,400 volumes. The Museum has 14 rooms across 3 storeys, plus a large space, used as a deposit for ceramic materials, which is also equipped for study activities.In addition to an archaeological section, which offers an illustrative overview of the principal ceramic activity in ancient Italy and Greece, the museum systematically documents local production from the Middle Ages to the 20^th century. The section on lustre majolica, a technique that made Deruta's workshops rather famous in the 16^th century, is particularly interesting. Themed sections are dedicated to: pharmacy ceramics, exhibited amidst the original furnishings of an ancient apothecary's store; 16^th-century majolica floors; and a nucleus of votive plaques, many inspired by those of the nearby Sanctuary of the Madonna dei Bagni. A special feature of the museum is the 4-storey metal tower, accessible on all floors from the building of the former convent, open to the public and fully equipped for study activities.

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