Busatti Leather & Coated Linen Placemat Oval: Red

An oval placemat in red, backed in leather and faced in coated linen jacquard, made in Italy by the Busatti family of Anghiari, Tuscany. It carries a Biordi label.

The cloth is woven on Busatti's shuttle looms, then coated so it wipes clean, and bonded to a leather backing that gives the mat weight and keeps it flat on the table. Unlike a fabric placemat, it does not go in the wash — a damp cloth is all it needs, which is why these are the mats people actually use every night rather than saving for company.

The oval shape suits round and oval tables, where rectangular mats leave awkward gaps. Red pairs directly with Ricamo Rosso and Raffaellesco Rosso, and sits well under Ricco Deruta.

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: Coated linen-cotton jacquard with full leather backing
Made in: Anghiari, Tuscany
Workshop: Busatti — weaving in Anghiari since 1842
Pattern: Oval, red
Heritage: Tuscan handloom weaving, Tiber Valley
Care: Wipe clean with a damp cloth · Do not machine wash · Do not soak
Sold as: individual
Mixes with: Ricamo Rosso, Raffaellesco Rosso, Ricco Deruta, Busatti napkins and runners

Can these go in the wash?
No. The linen face is coated and the backing is leather. Wipe with a damp cloth; do not machine wash or soak.

Do they stay flat?
Yes. The leather backing gives them enough weight to lie flat and keeps them from sliding on a polished table.

Is this a good Italian wedding gift?
Yes, as a set of four or six rather than singly. Coated placemats are the piece couples most often forget to register for and use most.

Is this a good housewarming or hostess gift?
Yes. They need no sizing, suit a round or oval table, and are used daily rather than stored.

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.

Coated linen and leather — Busatti weaves the linen first on its own looms, then coats and bonds it to leather. The pattern is in the weave, not printed on the coating, so it does not scratch away.

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 — 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.