Deruta has been producing Majolica Italian Pottery continuously for six hundred years. Some of the patterns that we import such as 'Dragon' (Raffaellesco) and 'Ricco' have their origins in the Renaissance. Their designs are taken from details in the paintings and frescoes of Raffaello and Perugino.

'Arabesco' was based on a Persian calligraphic pattern during the seventeenth century. It has expanded to endless combinations of colors and forms. While most pieces have a bird or pair of birds painted on them, some can be found with deer or hare.

Earliest Italian ceramics were painted in copper green and black in geometric designs and crude portraits of people, plants, or animals. From this tradition comes an interpretation during the nineteenth century, 'Gallo Verde' (Green Rooster) now available in many color ways.

The 'Geometrico' pattern is entirely based on the Persian use of patterns without figures. Each piece R. Bonechi imports is uniquely painted on a variety of standard bowls, platters, pitchers, cannisters, and large mugs.

R, Bonechi Imports also carries more contemporary work from two different 'Desegno Vario' patterns, based on the Geometrico, to 'Tutta Frutta' based on the Della Robbia garlands of fruit in the Renaissance.

Designs by painter Brita Holmquist include 'Rabbit' and 'Judy' as well as a line of mugs based on the Palio patterns from Siena. Holmquist will also design a mug for your store or business. She has already done this for such diverse businesses as a recording studio, a grammar school and a restaurant.