CIRCA 1750, PROBABLY THE GRUE FAMILY WORKSHOP

Maiolica was been produced in Castelli from the 16th century. The first production to be noted by scholars and collectors were the pharmacutical wares, known by the class 'Orsini-Colonna type'. By the early 17th century, wares used the white ground of the compendiario style until about 1650, when the istoriato style was revived. This coincided with the dominance of the Grue and later the Gentili families of potters. Like their 16th century counterparts in Urbino, the 18th century maiolicari borrowed heavily from printed sources. Both factories became known for their production of large campana vases, dishes, cups and trembleuse saucers as well as plaques including signed examples, depicting religious, mythological and pastoral subjects.