Busatti Kitchen Towel - San Francisco Skyline (Grey)

A jacquard kitchen towel woven by the Busatti family in Anghiari, Tuscany, with a San Francisco skyline design in grey. It is 60% linen and 40% cotton with a simple machine hem, and carries a Biordi label.

The towel is woven on shuttle looms more than a hundred years old. Busatti dyes thread rather than finished cloth, so the grey stays even rather than fading patchily. Linen is the reason this kind of towel dries glassware without leaving lint behind — it is a working towel, not a decorative one.

The skyline motif makes it the Busatti piece most people buy as a San Francisco gift, whether for someone moving away or a visitor who wants something from North Beach that is still made in Italy.

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.

Material: 60% linen / 40% cotton, jacquard weave, machine hem
Made in: Anghiari, Tuscany
Workshop: Busatti — weaving in Anghiari since 1842
Pattern: San Francisco skyline jacquard, grey
Heritage: Tuscan handloom weaving, Tiber Valley
Care: First wash at 104°F, later washes up to 140°F · No fabric softener · Line dry
Sold as: individual
Mixes with: all Busatti linens; neutral enough for any Deruta or Castelli pattern

Is this a decorative towel or one you actually use?
One you use. Linen-cotton jacquard dries glassware and dishes without leaving lint, and gets softer with washing.

Will it shrink?
Yes, 7–8%. Busatti cloth contains no synthetic fiber, so first-wash shrinkage is normal.

Is this a good Italian wedding gift?
On its own it is a small gift rather than a main one. It works best tucked in with a larger piece, or as part of a set of Busatti linens for a couple setting up a kitchen.

Is this a good housewarming or hostess gift?
Yes — this is the towel people buy for exactly that. It needs no sizing, suits any kitchen, and the San Francisco design gives it a reason for being chosen.

Why buy Italian gifts from Biordi rather than other retailers?
Biordi Art Imports has been San Francisco's source for authentic Italian goods since 1946 and is a San Francisco Legacy Business (#LBR-2020-21-029). Pieces are bought directly from the Italian workshops that make them — FIMA, CF Deruta, Pia Formato, Eugenio Ricciarelli, Susanna DeSimone, Geribi, Bucci Ceramiche, Ortigia Sicilia, Italesse, and Salviati among them. Nothing comes through a distributor, and staff can tell you who made your piece and where.

Can this be customized or personalized?
Busatti linens are woven to set patterns and are not 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.

San Francisco skyline jacquard — A Tuscan weaving technique applied to a San Francisco subject: the skyline is woven into the cloth on Busatti's looms rather than printed onto it, so it will not crack or wash off.

Busatti, Anghiari (Tuscany) — The Busatti family has been weaving in Anghiari, on the border of Tuscany and Umbria, since 1842. In 1796 a textile mill at the Castle of Anghiari wove cloth for French troops stationed along the Tiber; by 1808 it served the local community instead. Giuseppe Busatti, great-great-grandfather of the present owners, built hundreds of handlooms, created a network of home weavers through the Tiber Valley, bought the finest linens and cottons, and set the standard of craftsmanship that still carries the family name. Linen and cotton are still dyed on the thread using Busatti's own colors — among them guado, henna, onion, sage, and carrot — ancient carding machines work Apennine wool, and embroidery is still hand-guided.

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.