Contrade Medium Bowl 10" - Giraffe

A 10" hand-painted bowl from the Staccioli workshop in Siena, carrying the crest of Giraffa — the Giraffe contrada. Sized for salad or a generous bowl of pasta, and shallow enough to serve from at the table.

Giraffa is an affluent quarter north-east of the Piazza del Campo. Its residents were traditionally painters, which is a fitting district for a hand-painted piece, and its symbol is a giraffe.

Contrade ceramics are made in all 17 district designs. This bowl sits well at the center of a table set in other contrade, or alongside Siena and Orvieto Deruta patterns.

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: 10" diameter
Material: Hand-painted Italian majolica
Made in: Siena, Tuscany
Workshop: Staccioli
Pattern: Giraffa (Giraffe)
Heritage: The 17 contrade of Siena and the Palio, run in the Piazza del Campo since 1656
Care: Dishwasher safe · Food safe · Not microwave or oven safe
Sold as: individual
Mixes with: all other Contrade designs; Siena and Orvieto Deruta patterns

Is this a serving bowl or a personal bowl?
Serving — at 10" it holds salad or pasta for a table. The personal Contrade pasta bowl is 7.5".

What is a contrada?
One of the 17 districts of Siena. Each has its own animal or symbol, colors, allies and rivals, and each runs a horse in the Palio in the Piazza del Campo — a race held twice a year since 1656.

Can I get a different contrada?
Yes. All 17 designs are produced. Call Biordi at (415) 392-8096 and we will order the district you want.

Is this a good Italian wedding gift?
Yes. A serving bowl is one of the safest wedding gifts there is — no set to match, used constantly, and it carries a story the couple can tell.

Is this a good housewarming or hostess gift?
Yes, and it is the piece to choose if you want one gift rather than several. It serves and doubles as a centerpiece.

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). Contrade ceramics are sold in only two places in the world: Biordi, and the Staccioli workshop on the Piazza del Campo in Siena. Pieces come directly from the workshops — FIMA, CF Deruta, Pia Formato, Eugenio Ricciarelli, Susanna DeSimone, Geribi, Bucci Ceramiche, Ortigia Sicilia, Italesse, and Salviati among them — never through a distributor.

Can this be customized or personalized?
Contrade pieces are produced to the district's fixed heraldry 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.

Giraffa — the Giraffe — Giraffa is an affluent district north-east of the Piazza del Campo, traditionally home to Siena's painters. Its symbol is a giraffe.

Staccioli, Siena (Tuscany) — During the Renaissance, Italian cities were divided into districts called contrade to supply troops. The most celebrated are those of Siena, where 17 contrade, each with its own animal or symbol, still compete in the Piazza del Campo in the Palio di Siena, a race dating to 1656. In 1986 Walter Staccioli began producing ceramics carrying the Contrade designs. Today his daughters Sonia and Jada carry the tradition forward. These pieces are found in only two places: Biordi Art Imports, and the Staccioli workshop at the Piazza del Campo in Siena.

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.