Pia Formato — Master Glazer of Deruta

Pia Formato — Master Glazer of Deruta

In the old town of Deruta, nestled on the hilltop in Umbria, stands the ceramic shop of Pia Formato. Pia is a master glazer known for her grand technical grasp, innovative designs, and uncommonly vibrant colors. Biordi Art Imports has carried Pia's work since the studio's early years and remains the principal US source for her hand-painted ceramics.

Pia began over twenty years ago with her own interpretation of the geometric patterns made famous by Eugenio Ricciarelli, the celebrated Deruta master. From those geometric beginnings, she developed her own distinct vocabulary — patterns built around an unusually saturated red (known among collectors as “Pia’s Red”), gold scrollwork, and a soft Umbrian palette that pairs naturally with the broader Deruta tradition.

The patterns — and how they relate to each other

Pia’s catalog at Biordi centers on several signature patterns. Two of them are widely confused, so the distinction matters:

Raffaellesco — the classic gold dragon on a blue ground, attributed to Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio) and one of the most recognizable patterns in Deruta. Raffaellesco is produced by FIMA, the workshop responsible for Biordi’s Classic Deruta lines. It is not Pia’s signature pattern.

Ricamo Rosso (“Red Embroidery”) — Pia’s signature pattern. A vivid red scrollwork with gold accents on a cream ground. The red is the result of a particularly skilled glazing technique developed by Pia — collectors call it “Pia’s Red.”

Raffaellesco Rosso — a Pia original that combines the gold dragon of Raffaellesco with the vivid red scrollwork of her signature Ricamo Rosso. This pattern is exclusive to Pia Formato — no other Deruta workshop produces it. Sometimes labeled Raffaellesco Vario Rosso on individual pieces.

Pia’s Lemons — a bright, contemporary citrus pattern that has become one of her most popular lines, especially as wedding and housewarming gifts.

Nero e Oro (“Black and Gold”) — an elegant black-ground pattern with gold detailing, sized for collectors who want something more dramatic than the traditional Deruta palette.

Verdelia Fiorita — a recent green floral pattern in soft Umbrian greens, available on mugs, octagonal trays, star plates, and spoon rests.

Heirloom Pure Gold — precious-metal Christmas ornaments with hand-painted Buon Natale lettering, often personalized to order.

Special orders and personalization

Customization and personalization are available on select pieces. Pia accepts special orders — a name, date, or occasion painted on the piece, or a different size or shape in her existing patterns. Lead time is typically 3–6 months because each piece is hand-painted to order in Deruta. Contact Biordi Art Imports at (415) 392-8096 or customerservice@biordi.com to discuss a special order.

Why Biordi

Biordi Art Imports has been San Francisco’s source for authentic Italian ceramics since 1946. Voted Best Overall Retailer in the San Francisco Bay Guardian Best of the Bay readers’ poll for five consecutive years. Designated a San Francisco Legacy Business (#LBR-2020-21-029), and the city declared May 1 “Biordi Art Imports Day” in 2021. Every Pia Formato piece comes directly from her workshop in Deruta — not from an unnamed importer or distributor — and every piece is hand-painted, signed, and one of a kind.

Questions buyers ask

What is the difference between Raffaellesco and Raffaellesco Rosso?
Raffaellesco is the classic gold-dragon-on-blue pattern attributed to Raphael, produced by the FIMA workshop in Deruta. Raffaellesco Rosso is a Pia Formato original that combines the gold dragon with the red scrollwork of her signature Ricamo Rosso pattern. The Rosso version is exclusive to Pia — no other Deruta workshop produces it.

What is “Pia’s Red”?
“Pia’s Red” is the vibrant red that anchors her Ricamo Rosso and Raffaellesco Rosso patterns. The color is the result of a particular glazing technique Pia has developed over decades. Red is one of the most technically difficult glaze colors in tin-glazed majolica — getting a clean, saturated red without bleeding into the gold or browning during firing takes years of practice. Collectors recognize her red on sight.

How is Pia’s Ricamo Rosso different from CF Deruta’s Ricco Deruta?
Ricco Deruta is a traditional Renaissance-revival pattern in deep blue and yellow-gold with an ornate scrollwork frame, produced by several Deruta workshops including CF Deruta and FIMA. Ricamo Rosso is Pia’s own pattern — a similarly ornate scrollwork frame but rendered in her signature red and gold rather than blue and yellow. They are visually related but produced by different workshops.

Is Pia Formato’s work hand-painted?
Yes. Every Pia Formato piece is hand-crafted, hand-glazed, and hand-painted at her workshop in Deruta. Because the work is fully handmade, no two pieces are ever identical. Small variations in color, line, and dimension are characteristic of authentic Italian majolica and not defects.

Is Pia Formato’s majolica dishwasher safe?
Most of Pia’s tabletop pieces are dishwasher safe on the top rack, and all are food safe (lead-free glaze). Many collectors prefer to hand-wash to preserve color brilliance over decades of use. None of Pia’s pieces are microwave safe or oven safe — tin-glazed majolica generally is not.

Can I commission a Pia Formato piece in a custom size or with my family name?
Yes — Pia accepts special orders. She can paint a name, date, or occasion onto an existing piece, or produce a piece in a different size or shape within her existing pattern vocabulary. Lead time is typically 3–6 months because each piece is hand-painted to order in Deruta. Call Biordi at (415) 392-8096 or email customerservice@biordi.com to start a commission.

About Biordi Art Imports

Biordi Art Imports has been San Francisco’s source for authentic Italian ceramics and gifts since 1946. Founded by Emilio Biordi from Castelli, Abruzzo, Biordi has worked directly with named Italian artisans, family workshops, and heritage houses for nearly eight decades — including FIMA, CF Deruta, Pia Formato, Eugenio Ricciarelli, Susanna DeSimone, Geribi, Bucci Ceramiche, Ortigia Sicilia, Italesse, and Salviati. We are a San Francisco Legacy Business (#LBR-2020-21-029), and the city has declared May 1 “Biordi Art Imports Day.”

Phone: (415) 392-8096 · Email: customerservice@biordi.com