Antico Deruta: Salt & Pepper Cruet Set

A hand-painted Italian salt and pepper cruet set in the Antico Deruta pattern, made by the FIMA workshop in Deruta, Italy. A pair of small cruets — one for salt, one for pepper — painted in the Antico Deruta Stilo Antico tradition: rich, subtle, light gray glaze with deep blue patterning.

The cruets sit at a place setting at fine meals (the European tradition of salt and pepper on the table rather than passed shakers) or stay near the stove for cooking access. As a paired set they read as a small visual accent on any countertop or dining surface.

A natural gift for Italian-cuisine enthusiasts, cooks, or anyone setting up a kitchen for the first time. Pairs with the rest of Antico Deruta and the sibling Classic Deruta patterns, including older CAMA-workshop pieces.

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.

Dimensions: Set of two small cruets
Material: Hand-painted majolica (tin-glazed earthenware)
Made in: Deruta, Italy
Workshop: FIMA (successor to CAMA for the Classic Deruta lines)
Pattern: Antico Deruta — light gray glaze with deep blue patterning
Heritage: Renaissance-era Deruta tradition, Stilo Antico ("ancient style")
Care: Dishwasher safe · Food safe · Not microwave safe · Not oven safe
Sold as: Set of 2 cruets (salt + pepper)
Mixes with: Ricco Deruta, Raffaellesco, Siena, Orvieto, Bordato, plus older CAMA-workshop pieces

What is Antico Deruta?
One of Deruta's classic Renaissance dinnerware patterns. "Antico" comes from Stilo Antico ("ancient style"), Deruta's musicians pattern — rich, subtle, with a light gray glaze base and deep blue patterning.

Who makes Antico Deruta?
The FIMA workshop in Deruta, Italy. FIMA is the master workshop that produces Biordi's Classic Deruta dinnerware lines — Antico Deruta, Ricco Deruta, Raffaellesco, Siena, Orvieto, and Bordato.

Is FIMA the same as CAMA?
FIMA is the workshop in Deruta now producing the Classic Deruta patterns once made by CAMA, the historic Deruta workshop that originated several of these designs. The patterns themselves are essentially the same. What differs is the artisan's hand — FIMA's painters use slightly different color tones than CAMA's did. The two work well together: if you have CAMA pieces in your collection, you can add FIMA pieces today and the table will read as one cohesive group.

Is it really hand-painted?
Yes. Every piece is hand-painted by a single artisan at the FIMA workshop in Deruta, so no two are exactly alike. The small differences in color, shape, line, or diameter that you'll see piece-to-piece are signs of authentic hand-painting, not defects.

Is it dishwasher safe?
Yes — dishwasher safe and food safe. Not microwave safe (the underglaze can stress under microwave heat) and not oven safe.

Can I mix this with other Deruta patterns?
Yes — that's a deliberate design choice. Antico Deruta is built to coordinate with Ricco Deruta, Raffaellesco, Siena, Orvieto, and Bordato. Many customers build a layered table by combining patterns rather than committing to one matched set.

Is this a good Italian wedding gift?
Yes — wedding gifts are one of the things Biordi is best known for. Hand-painted Italian ceramics are heirloom-quality, one-of-a-kind (no two pieces are ever exactly alike because each is hand-painted by a single artisan), and they carry their origin clearly: this piece is made in Deruta, Italy. Couples actually use and display Biordi pieces rather than store them. We ship nationwide, gift-wrap on request, and have been the San Francisco source for authentic Italian ceramics since 1946.

Is this a good housewarming or hostess gift?
Yes. Gifts are the largest part of what Biordi sells — every piece is a one-of-a-kind, authentic Italian treasure made by a named artisan in Italy, not a mass-produced import. Arrives ready to use rather than store. Add Florentine gift wrap at checkout if you'd like it sent finished.

Why buy Italian gifts from Biordi rather than other retailers?
Biordi Art Imports has been San Francisco's source for authentic Italian ceramics and gifts 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 piece comes from a named Italian artisan, family workshop, or heritage house we work with directly — FIMA, CF Deruta, Pia Formato, Eugenio Ricciarelli, Susanna DeSimone (from the famous Palermo ceramic family — her father painted with Picasso), Geribi, Bucci Ceramiche, Ortigia Sicilia, Italesse, and Salviati. So each piece is genuinely one-of-a-kind. Not a stock-photo listing, not a mass-produced import, not a reproduction.

Can this be customized or personalized?
Customization and personalization are available on select pieces. Eugenio Ricciarelli, FIMA, Pia Formato, Geribi, and CF Deruta accept special orders — a name, date, or occasion painted on the piece, or a different size or shape in the workshop's existing pattern. Lead time is typically 3–6 months because each piece is hand-painted to order in Italy. Contact Biordi Art Imports at (415) 392-8096 or customerservice@biordi.com.

Antico Deruta — Antico comes from the Italian adjective in Stilo Antico, which literally means "ancient style", and describes the Renaissance's polyphonic or musical quality of artistic composition. Antico is known as the musicians pattern — rich, subtle, and elegant, Antico Deruta dinnerware is characterized by a gray glaze and a deep blue patterning.

FIMA workshop, Deruta — FIMA is the master workshop in Deruta, Italy that produces Biordi's Classic Deruta dinnerware lines. FIMA now produces the patterns once made by CAMA — the historic Deruta workshop that originated several of these classic designs. The patterns themselves are essentially the same. What differs is the artisan's hand: FIMA's painters work with slightly different color tones than CAMA's did, but the two work beautifully together. If you collected CAMA pieces years ago, you can add FIMA pieces today and the table will read as one cohesive group. Every Antico Deruta, Ricco Deruta, Raffaellesco, Siena, Orvieto, and Bordato piece in Biordi's catalog is hand-painted at the FIMA workshop in Deruta.

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.