Trio of Rooster Pitchers

This trio of rooster pitchers include three rooster designs and sizes. 

ANTICO DERUTA ROOSTER PITCHER, 2 QT.
ORVIETO ROOSTER PITCHER, 1 QT
RICCO DERUTA ROOSTER PITCHER, 1/2 QT

The origin of the rooster pitcher dates back to the early Renaissance period in the Republic of Florence, under the influence of the Medici family. The Medici were the most wealthy and powerful family in Italy, with their only rivals being the Pazzi family. The Pazzi plan was to overthrow the Medici's one day. 

One drunken night, the Pazzi's hired assassins to sneak into the town in order to take control over Florence.  They would have succeeded, except the assassins had to cross a field full of roosters to get into the village, and at the sound of the intruders, the roosters began to crow in such a frenzy that it woke the Medici's and the guards! This caught the assassins off-guard, so they were captured and eventually executed. The Medici's commissioned the artisans to produce Rooster pitchers which they gave to the people of Florence, thus signifying good luck and good fortune. 

The Legend of the Italian Rooster Pitcher ~

The origin of Rooster Pitchers dates back to the early Renaissance period (15^th century) in the Republic of Florence. The Medici’s were the ruling family in Florence, and as the wealthiest and most powerful, the Medici family had a lot to celebrate. And celebrate they did!

There was a rivalry, power struggle with another leading Florence family, the Pazzi’s, who also had strong influence in Florence and resented the Medici’s and vowed to overthrow the dynasty.  After multiple unsuccessful attempts to murder the Medici’s, the Pazzi’s enlisted a double agent to convince the Medici’s to host one of their lavish parties in the village of Gallina, where they would assassin Guiliano Medici.  They waited until the Medici family members and their guards were inebriated and then would attack.

As the Pazzi assassins were in the outskirts of the village, they came upon a field of roosters, and upon crossing them, the roosters crowed.  The Medici guardsmen awoke and were able to defend the Medici’s and capture the assassins.   

The next day, the Medici’s ordered the artisans to pay homage to the roosters and create ceramic pitchers modeled in the roosters’ image. These ceramic roosters were used as wine vessels as the Medici’s celebrated their good fortunes. 

After the fortuitous turn of events on that evening in 1478, the Medici’s sent each of the families of Gallina a ceramic rooster as a symbol of good luck. The ceramic rooster pitcher was very popular over the subsequent 16th century and today is a tradition many Italian families continue to enjoy. Often, the Italian ceramic rooster pitcher is given as a wedding or housewarming gift, or as a gesture of goodwill.

“Il Buon Gallo” or “Good Rooster” has become a symbol of luck, abundance and prosperity.

Classic Deruta Pottery is the most popular and traditional Italian Ceramics from Italy. The very essence, the soul, of Italian ceramics lives in La Citta di Deruta. Deruta, the center of Italian Majolica since the 12th century has over 100 ceramic workshops offering some of the best quality majolica in the world.

When you order this hand-painted Classic Deruta Dinnerware you can mix these patterns with each other. Another way to go is to combine the "full designs" dinnerware with their "simplified" versions that you see next to each other in the above photos.

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

Flat shipping charge of $10 for each shipment of merchandise under $100.00. For orders of $100.00 or more, shipping is 10% of the order total.

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

Please contact us at customerservice@biordi.com or call us at (415) 392-8096 for quotes to ship internationally.

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.