Frutta: Pasta/ Soup Plate, Full Design, 10"

A 10" hand-painted pasta and soup plate in the Frutta pattern, full design, made in Castelli, Abruzzo. Frutta is a fruit design painted for several generations by the Pardi family of Castelli.

The rimmed shape is the Italian way to serve pasta — shallow enough to twirl against, deep enough for soup, and wide enough that the painted rim still shows once the bowl is full. That is why the pattern is worth having on this piece in particular.

Castelli matters more at Biordi than at any other shop carrying Italian ceramics: it is 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: 10" diameter
Material: Hand-painted Castelli majolica
Made in: Castelli, Abruzzo
Workshop: Painted by the Pardi family of Castelli
Pattern: Frutta, full design
Heritage: Castelli, in the Apennines below the Gran Sasso, and the home town of Biordi founder Emilio Biordi
Care: Hand-wash recommended · Food safe · Not dishwasher, microwave or oven safe
Sold as: individual
Mixes with: Frutta simplified, Rosa, and plain white dinnerware

Is this for pasta or for soup?
Both. The rimmed shape is the standard Italian pasta plate — shallow with a wide painted rim — and it holds soup equally well.

What is the difference between full design and simplified?
Same pattern, same painters. The full design carries the fruit across the face; the simplified version leaves more white. They are made to be used together.

Why does Biordi carry so much from Castelli?
Because Emilio Biordi, who founded the shop in San Francisco in 1946, came from Castelli.

Can it go in the dishwasher?
Hand-washing is recommended. Castelli majolica is food safe but should not go in the dishwasher, the microwave or the oven.

Is this a good Italian wedding gift?
Yes, and often a better one than dinner plates — pasta plates are the piece couples actually reach for, and fewer people think to give them.

Is this a good housewarming or hostess gift?
Yes, as a pair or a set of four.

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, and staff can tell you who painted your piece and where.

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.

Frutta — A fruit pattern of Castelli origin, painted for several generations by the Pardi family.

Castelli, Abruzzo — Castelli sits on a ridge of the Apennines in the shadow of the Gran Sasso and has been one of Italy's most celebrated ceramic towns for centuries. It is also 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.