Deruta Italian Hand Painted Maiolica Jug with Fruit and Vine Motif

A beautifully hand painted Italian maiolica jug from Deruta, the famed pottery town in Umbria where the tradition of hand decorated ceramics dates back to the Renaissance. Painted in the classic Deruta style, the cream glazed body is decorated with a loose, painterly design of fruits and trailing vine leaves in autumnal yellows, ochres, sage greens, and burgundy, with the rim and handle finished in a warm Tuscan yellow. Measuring 17 by 17 cm to the handle, with a generous bulbous body, full curved handle, and a traditional pinched spout, the jug works equally well filled with seasonal stems, dried grasses, or simply displayed as a colourful object on a kitchen dresser, sideboard, or open shelf. Marked Deruta on the base, with a small number suggesting a workshop or model code. A lovely piece of authentic Italian craft heritage that brings warmth and character to country, Mediterranean, or eclectic interiors.