In the late 1950’s, Mario Sambuco, after acquiring extensive and thorough knowledge of Deruta’s ceramic-making traditions and techniques, founded the Sambuco company. His goal was to conserve and protect this tradition by producing pieces in a wide variety of shapes and decorations, inspired by models and designs from Deruta’s historic ceramic-making tradition. He also wanted his pieces to express a sense of modernity, to reflect contemporary tastes.

Mario studied and used materials rarely found in wares from Deruta, including precious materials such as gold, platinum and copper. He then went on to specialize in the field of contemporary ceramics, and later produced an extensive line of religious items including chalices, patens and Communion pyx.

Sambuco is renowned for its impressive craftsmanship, the precious quality of its raw materials and its team of highly skilled craftsmen (potters and decorators). Characteristics that are translated into pieces with a modern yet local "classic" look, which are traditionally renowned and rich with Medieval, Renaissance and twentieth-century styles, for which Deruta’s crafts are famous.

This rational co-existence between the ancient and the modern is attested to by the countless lines that are produced and on display in the company’s Deruta showroom. Here, you can find furnishing and décor pieces, ceramics for everyday use, tableware, flooring, tables, lamps, liturgical furnishings and much more, all hand crafted in a vast range of shapes and decorations. These pieces can also be personalized or created from a client’s specifications.

Today, the company is qualified to offer the highest quality, "made in Deruta" pieces with distinctive, traditional Deruta painting styles such as Raphael-style designs, Floral Motifs, Calligraphy, Compendiario-style designs and, following the tradition of the twentieth-century master painters, faithful reproductions of the most precious majolica wares of the Renaissance period (decorative plates, gamelii or "love dishes", double-handle vases, plaques with religious and profane motifs, cups, pharmacy wares) and majolica pieces inspired by paintings from the great master painters (Michelangelo, Raphael, Caravaggio, Bruegel, Monet, Manet, Klimt, Kandinsky, Miró etc.)

In addition to its "classic" pieces, Sambuco also makes ceramics featuring Art Nouveau and Art Déco styles and countless other precious crafts such as those with graffito designs, mosaic works and triple-fired ceramics.

The company, which is qualified to export its goods throughout the world, works in accordance with UNI EN SO 9001-2000 Quality Standards, holds the GOST certification for the Russian Federation, and bears the CAT trademark (law no. 188 of 9 July 1990). Since 2000, Sambuco has been developing a research and development project entitled "Stilnovo". In collaboration with contemporary artists and designers, its goal is to create new forms and decorations, to experiment with new materials and create new furnishing solutions and applications. The company’s quality system requires that a feasibility study and cost analysis be carried out when creating more complex works, special order pieces and contract orders.

The company’s steadfast and serious commitment to craftsmanship, culture and ongoing research into quality and its modern entrepreneurial approach have been rewarded. Sambuco’s products not only enjoy positive reception from national and international markets, but have also earned recognition from the Regional Ceramics Museum of Deruta, which preserves a Sambuco piece awarded the top prize at the First Ceramic-Makers Competition (Deruta 1991) for the following reason: "Your work, in both shape and decoration, respects and reconfirms Deruta’s artistic tradition through an intelligent commitment to innovation".