Ceramics of Orvieto: Artisanal Masterpieces Spanning the Ages

1. Perched on a  porous volcanic rock plateau, the geology of Orvieto is characterized by layers of volcanic materials, such as  lava,  ash, and pumice, permitting the easy creation of caves, cisterns, tunnels and underground cavities over the centuries.

Over the years, the orvietani have often uncovered remnants of medieval and Renaissance ceramic plates, bowls, cups, jars, and vases in the grottoes, cavities and tunnels carved out of the rupe (rocky plateau). During the 1348 outbreak of the plague, personal objects and vessels were considered vehicles of infection and tossed into the cavities.   Over the centuries, ceramicists, too, discarded their unsuccessful,  defective objects by dumping them into cavities or even wells or cisterns – where locals also disposed of broken household items.

And not only the medieval ceramics of Orvieto were splendid artisanal creations…..

…but also the 6th – 3rd-c B.C. Etruscan ceramics, frequently  unearthed during excavations carried out in the Orvieto-area necropoli.

Recently a Roman kiln was unearthed in a town near Orvieto on Lake Corbara, underscoring  the ancient production of ceramics. This artisanal craft has been  passed from generation to generation, prevailing in Orvieto as one of the most appreciated artisanal crafts.

Near a  medieval kiln in the midst of the winding backstreets in one of the oldest sections of Orvieto, medieval and Renaissance pottery is displayed.  Noted for innovative decor and excellent workmanship, the predominant colors were coppery green, white and black manganese. Female figures – often mythical ones – and vegetation and  animals were the preferred themes for the decoration.

Many of the orvietani ceramicists today create maiolica objects in the traditional colors and motifs so typical of Orvieto….