Ceramic White Umbrella Stand with 24 Karat Gold Lion

A white ceramic umbrella stand with a 24-karat gold lion, made by IDEART in Castelli, Abruzzo. 20" tall by 10" across — heavy enough to hold a full complement of umbrellas without tipping, and handsome enough to leave in an entry hall year round.

White ground with real gold is the Castelli signature: the town's ceramics have been known for centuries for white-glaze work with gold and fine brushwork. An umbrella stand is an unglamorous object, which is exactly why doing it in white and gold works.

Made in Castelli by Antonio Di Francesco — the town Emilio Biordi came from before founding Biordi Art Imports in San Francisco in 1946.

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: 20" x 10"
Material: White ceramic with 24-karat gold detail
Made in: Castelli, Abruzzo
Workshop: IDEART — Antonio Di Francesco
Pattern: White with 24-karat gold lion
Heritage: Castelli, in the Apennines below the Gran Sasso, and the home town of Biordi founder Emilio Biordi
Care: Dust with a dry cloth · Do not scrub the gold · Empty and dry after wet umbrellas · Indoor use
Sold as: individual
Mixes with: the matching white-and-gold planter and ring-detail umbrella stand

Is the gold real?
Yes — 24-karat gold, applied and fired onto the white glaze. It should be dusted rather than scrubbed, and never put in a dishwasher.

Is it heavy enough not to tip?
Yes. At 20" x 10" in fired ceramic it has the weight to stay put with umbrellas leaning against one side.

What about water from wet umbrellas?
Empty and dry it after heavy use rather than letting water sit. The glaze is waterproof but standing water is hard on any ceramic over years.

Can it be used for something else?
Commonly, yes — rolled blankets, walking sticks, a tall dried arrangement. It is often bought as a floor vase.

Is this a good Italian wedding gift?
Yes, as a significant single gift, and an unusual one — nobody registers for an umbrella stand and everybody ends up needing one.

Is this a good housewarming or hostess gift?
As a housewarming gift it is close to ideal: an entry hall is the first thing a new owner notices is empty.

Why buy Italian gifts from Biordi rather than other retailers?
Biordi Art Imports has been San Francisco's source for authentic Italian ceramics 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.

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.

White and gold Castelli — 24-karat gold fired onto a white tin glaze, a Castelli speciality.

IDEART, Castelli (Abruzzo) — IDEART is the Castelli workshop of Antonio Di Francesco, who works in the shadow of the Gran Sasso, shaping the same earth that occasionally wobbles his wheel. Castelli has been one of Italy's most celebrated ceramic towns for centuries, and it is the town Emilio Biordi came from — the founder of Biordi Art Imports.

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.