Grinder Pepper - Orvieto

A hand-painted Italian pepper grinder in the Orvieto Green Rooster pattern, made by the Tommassini workshop in the hills of Deruta, Italy. A working kitchen object that lives on the counter or table — a hand-painted Italian majolica body in deep teal-green Orvieto, combined with a stainless steel grinder mechanism for fresh peppercorns.

Orvieto Green Rooster is one of Italy's oldest dinnerware designs. The deep teal-green leaf pattern dates to 13th-century Orvieto, a small Umbrian town set on a volcanic plateau, and features il Buon Gallo — the Good Rooster — a symbol of luck and prosperity that came to be associated with Italian ceramic tradition in the early 20th century.

Often given as a pair with the matching Orvieto salt grinder. Pairs naturally with Orvieto dinnerware and the sibling Classic 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.

Type: Pepper grinder (works with whole peppercorns)
Material: Hand-painted majolica ceramic body + stainless steel grinder mechanism
Made in: Deruta, Italy
Workshop: Tommassini
Pattern: Orvieto Green Rooster — deep teal green leaf pattern with singing rooster
Heritage: 13th-century Orvieto design; the rooster motif introduced by Deruta ceramicists in the early 20th century
Care: Hand wash recommended for combined ceramic + steel pieces
Sold as: Individual grinder

What is the Orvieto Green Rooster pattern?
One of Italy's oldest dinnerware designs, originating in 13th-century Orvieto — a small town set on a volcanic plateau in Umbria. The pattern is a deep teal-green leaf design centered on the singing rooster, known as il Buon Gallo (the Good Rooster), a traditional symbol of luck and prosperity for the home. In the Renaissance, Orvieto ceramics were often associated with green colorations, which is why the pattern carries its signature green palette today.

What does "il Buon Gallo" mean?
Literally "the Good Rooster" in Italian. The rooster is one of the most enduring symbols of luck, abundance, and prosperity in Italian folk tradition. The rooster motif was introduced into Italian ceramics by Deruta ceramicists in the early 20th century and has become a familiar icon of Italian pottery.

Who makes this piece?
The Tommassini workshop in the hills of Deruta, Italy. Tommassini is a family-owned workshop — father, wife, and son working together — that produces hand-painted Italian majolica utensils, pepper and salt grinders, olive oil bottles, and glassware. The ceramic body is hand-painted at Tommassini and combined with a stainless steel grinder mechanism for daily use.

Can I still order this if it shows out of stock?
Contact Biordi at (415) 392-8096 or customerservice@biordi.com to check on availability and lead times for the Tommassini workshop.

What kind of pepper does it grind?
Whole peppercorns — black, white, or mixed. Pre-ground pepper clogs the mechanism. Many Italian kitchens keep a grinder of whole black peppercorns at the table for finishing pasta, salads, and antipasti.

Is it really hand-painted?
Yes. The ceramic body is hand-painted by a single artisan at the Tommassini workshop in Deruta, so no two are exactly alike. The small differences in color, shape, line, or diameter that you'll see piece-to-piece are signs of authentic hand-painting, not defects.

How do I care for this grinder?
Hand wash recommended. Combined ceramic-and-steel pieces shouldn't go in the dishwasher — the heat and detergents can damage the join between the ceramic body and the steel mechanism over time.

Can I mix this with other Deruta patterns?
Yes — Orvieto is built to coordinate with Antico Deruta, Ricco Deruta, Raffaellesco, Siena, and Bordato.

Is this a good Italian wedding gift?
Yes — the Good Rooster carries traditional meaning around luck and prosperity that makes Orvieto a particularly fitting choice for a new household. Hand-painted Italian ceramics are heirloom-quality, one-of-a-kind, and made in Deruta, Italy. We ship nationwide, gift-wrap on request, and have been the San Francisco source for authentic Italian ceramics since 1946.

Is this a good housewarming or hostess gift?
Yes — especially housewarming, since the Good Rooster has been a symbol of luck for the home since the Renaissance. Add Florentine gift wrap at checkout if you'd like it sent finished.

Why buy Italian gifts from Biordi rather than other retailers?
Biordi Art Imports has been San Francisco's source for authentic Italian ceramics and gifts since 1946. Voted Best Overall Retailer in the San Francisco Bay Guardian Best of the Bay readers' poll for five consecutive years. Designated a San Francisco Legacy Business (#LBR-2020-21-029), and the city declared May 1 "Biordi Art Imports Day" in 2021. Every piece comes from a named Italian artisan, family workshop, or heritage house we work with directly — FIMA, CF Deruta, Pia Formato, Eugenio Ricciarelli, Susanna DeSimone (from the famous Palermo ceramic family — her father painted with Picasso), Geribi, Bucci Ceramiche, Ortigia Sicilia, Italesse, and Salviati. So each piece is genuinely one-of-a-kind. Not a stock-photo listing, not a mass-produced import, not a reproduction.

Can this be customized or personalized?
Customization on this Tommassini grinder isn't available, but Biordi offers customization and personalization on select pieces from other workshops. 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.

Orvieto Green Rooster — This pattern is one of Italy's oldest dinnerware designs. Il Buon Gallo — the Good Rooster — is known in Italian folk tradition to bring good luck and prosperity to the home that keeps it. The style originated during the 13th century in Orvieto, a small town set on a volcanic plateau in Umbria. In the Renaissance, Orvieto ceramics were often associated with green colorations, which is why the modern Orvieto pattern carries its signature deep teal-green palette. The singing-rooster motif itself was introduced by Deruta ceramicists in the early 20th century and has since become one of the most familiar icons of Italian pottery.

Tommassini workshop, Deruta — Tommassini is a family-owned workshop in the hills of Deruta, Italy. Father, wife, and son work together creating hand-painted Italian majolica utensils, pepper grinders, salt grinders, olive oil bottles, and glassware. The ceramic body of each piece is hand-painted at Tommassini in Deruta and combined with high-quality stainless steel hardware to give a finished product that's both visually rich and built for daily use in the kitchen.

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.