VINTAGE AND COLLECTIBLE CERAMICS Ricco Deruta Salad Plate — CAMA Ceramiche

From a private Italian collection
Curated artisan ceramic centerpiece
Handcrafted by Cama in Italy

Rare Italian Maiolica | Collector’s Piece

This Ricco Deruta Salad Plate is an authentic vintage example of hand-painted Italian maiolica produced in Deruta by CAMA Ceramiche, a historic ceramic cooperative whose workshop is now permanently closed. Gracefully proportioned and richly decorated, this plate reflects the enduring elegance of Deruta’s Renaissance-inspired ceramic tradition.

The surface is adorned with the classic Ricco Deruta motif—scrolling foliage, floral medallions, and intricate ornamentation painted by hand in cobalt blue, terracotta red, golden ochre, and soft green on a luminous white tin glaze. At the center, a stylized rosette anchors the design, while the softly scalloped rim is finished with a distinctive golden-yellow edge, a hallmark of traditional Deruta craftsmanship.

No two plates are identical. Subtle variations in brushwork and glaze are evidence of the artisan’s hand, elevating this piece beyond tableware into the realm of collectible decorative art. With original CAMA pieces no longer produced, this salad plate is now a historical object—a tangible link to a moment when craftsmanship, community, and cultural continuity guided Italian ceramic production.

Perfect for salads, antipasti, desserts, or display, this plate is equally at home on a curated table or mounted as part of a serious ceramic collection.

Why This Plate Is Collectible

• CAMA Ceramiche (Deruta) — permanently closed workshop

• Out of production; no future examples will be made

• Hand-painted Ricco Deruta Renaissance-style decoration

• Classic scalloped salad plate form

• Increasingly sought after by collectors of Italian ceramics

• Pristine

Own a piece of Deruta’s legacy—bring home CAMA original today.

The small imperfections such as the difference in color, shape, diameter or small bubbles that form inside, do not constitute a defect but testify that it is actually an artisanal product.

The Heritage of CAMA Ceramiche

Deruta, Umbria — Founded 1954 · Closed 2011

In the storied hill town of Deruta, where ceramic tradition has flourished since the Middle Ages, CAMA Ceramiche stood for more than half a century as a guardian of authentic Italian maiolica.

Founded in 1954, CAMA—an acronym for Cooperativa Artigiana Maioliche Artistiche—was established as an artisan cooperative at a time when Italy was rebuilding its cultural and economic identity after the war. Rather than pursuing industrial production, CAMA was built on a collective philosophy: to preserve handcraft, protect artisan livelihoods, and uphold the visual language of classic Deruta ceramics.

From its earliest years, CAMA became known for its commitment to traditional tin-glazed majolica, using time-honored techniques that date back to the Renaissance. Each piece began as carefully prepared clay, shaped by hand or traditional molds, then fired, glazed in luminous white, and meticulously painted freehand with mineral pigments. No stencils. No shortcuts. Only the steady hand of a trained painter and the discipline of centuries-old methods.

A Workshop Defined by Artists, Not Machines

For decades, CAMA was closely associated with the Niccacci family, whose leadership and artistic vision helped define the workshop’s identity. Under their stewardship, CAMA produced tableware and decorative pieces that were both functional and expressive—ceramics meant to live on the table, not behind glass, yet beautiful enough to be collected and cherished.

CAMA’s designs drew deeply from Deruta’s classical vocabulary: scrolling foliage, balanced florals, mythic creatures, and rhythmic patterning rendered in rich blues, greens, ochres, and yellows. The now-recognizable yellow rim, seen across many CAMA forms, became a quiet signature—warm, optimistic, and unmistakably Italian.

While rooted in tradition, CAMA was never static. Its painters brought individuality to every piece, resulting in subtle variations that collectors quickly learned to recognize and value. These differences were not flaws, but proof of authenticity—evidence that each bowl, plate, or cup had passed through human hands.

International Recognition and Cultural Presence

By the late 20th century, CAMA Ceramiche had earned a devoted international following, particularly in the United States. Their work appeared in influential cookbooks, lifestyle publications, and even popular film—cementing CAMA’s reputation as a symbol of Italian conviviality and everyday elegance.

American collectors formed lasting relationships with the workshop, some visiting Deruta repeatedly to meet the artisans and commission pieces. These relationships outlived the company itself, giving rise to informal preservation efforts and collector communities dedicated to documenting CAMA’s legacy.

The End of a Workshop, Not a Tradition

Despite its artistic success, CAMA Ceramiche closed in 2011, after 57 years of production. Like many historic artisan workshops, it faced mounting economic pressures, shifting global markets, and the growing dominance of mass production. Attempts to restructure or continue the cooperative model ultimately proved unsustainable.

Yet CAMA’s closure marked the end of a workshop—not the end of its significance.

Today, original CAMA pieces are no longer produced, making surviving examples increasingly sought after by collectors of Italian ceramics. Each bowl or cup that remains is now a historical object: a tangible link to a moment when craftsmanship, community, and cultural continuity guided production.

Why CAMA Matters Today

In an era defined by speed and replication, CAMA Ceramiche represents something rare:
a complete, intact artisan philosophy—from material to motif, from workshop to table.

Owning a CAMA piece is not simply owning Italian ceramics. It is preserving a chapter of Deruta’s living history, a cooperative model of craftsmanship, and a standard of beauty shaped by patience, skill, and shared values.

CAMA Ceramiche (1954–2011).
Made by hand. Meant to be used. Remembered with reverence.

Italian ceramics are heirloom quality products, and can last lifetime with proper care. We have some suggestions that will preserve your majolica for years to come.

Majolica is dishwasher safe, but many people choose to hand wash their pieces as a precaution. Because majolica is a porous material, some pieces are not meant to hold liquid for a long period of time. Check for warning labels before ordering a product, as the pieces that are most notorious for "sweating" are appropriately labeled.

Majolica is sensitive to extreme temperatures, specifically boiling or freezing liquids. Pouring water with a rolling boil directly into a teapot, for example, may lead to breakage. To avoid this, temper the object. The industry standard is 620 degrees Celsius (1,148 degrees Fahrenheit). Quench the glass to cool it.

Crazing is common in well used majolica. The tiny cracks in the glaze do not affect the functionality of your majolica.

Majolica hand-crafted products should not be microwaved, as it may crack and/or break the ceramics.

UPS Ground

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UPS Next Day Air

Flat shipping charge of $63 for each shipment of merchandise under $70.00. For orders of $70.00 or more, shipping is 90% of the order total.

UPS 2-Day Priority (Rush Shipping)

Flat shipping charge of $42 for each shipment of merchandise under $70.00. For orders of $70.00 or more, shipping is 60% of the order total. Note: This option is required for shipping to Alaska and Hawaii.

USPS 3-Day Priority

Flat shipping charge of $21 for each shipment of merchandise under $70.00. For orders of $70.00 or more, shipping is 30% of the order total.

International Shipments

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You will be charged a rate based on your delivery area, value and shipping preference. For items shipped via UPS, see below for information pricing information. Once the package is shipped, you will receive an email with tracking information to track your package.