{"product_id":"italian-olivewood-aperitivo-bowls-set-of-4","title":"Italian Olivewood Condiment Bowls - Set of 4","description":"\u003ch4\u003eDESCRIPTION\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA set of four small oval bowls turned from Umbrian olivewood, sized for the things that sit on the table alongside the food — olives, capers, flaky salt, grated cheese, chili flakes, a pour of good oil for dipping.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOlivewood comes from trees that are pruned and eventually retired after decades of fruiting, so the wood is dense, slow-grown, and marked with the dark, irregular grain that only comes with age. No two bowls are alike. The grain runs from pale honey to deep amber, and the variation shows even within a single set.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThey are shallow by design — made to hold a small amount of something and be passed around, not to serve a course. The wood is naturally closed-grain and resists staining and odor, which is why Italian kitchens have used it for serving pieces for centuries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe set arrives in a cotton bag, ready to give as is. Mix with Deruta majolica for a table that reads Italian without matching — the warm wood grounds the bright hand-painted patterns.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 4\" x 3\" oval, approximately 1\" deep, each bowl\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/strong\u003e Umbrian olivewood\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMade in:\u003c\/strong\u003e Umbria, Italy\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWorkshop:\u003c\/strong\u003e Family woodturning workshop in Umbria\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePattern:\u003c\/strong\u003e Natural grain — each bowl unique\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeritage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Umbrian olivewood — the same region as Deruta\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCare:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hand-wash only · Dry immediately · Not dishwasher, microwave, or oven safe · Oil occasionally with food-grade mineral oil\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSold as:\u003c\/strong\u003e Set of 4, in a cotton bag\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMixes with:\u003c\/strong\u003e All Deruta majolica patterns, Il Mio Tavolo stoneware, Busatti linens\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eQuestions buyers ask\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow big are they, really?\u003c\/strong\u003e Small. Each bowl is about 4\" x 3\" and an inch deep — the size for olives, nuts, salt, or a dipping pour, not for a salad or a side dish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill the bowls all look the same?\u003c\/strong\u003e No. Olivewood grain is unique to each piece, so expect variation in color and figure across the set. That variation is the point.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I put oil or vinegar in them?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes. Olivewood is naturally dense and oil-resistant. Wipe out after use and dry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do I care for olivewood?\u003c\/strong\u003e Hand-wash only, in warm water with mild soap, and dry immediately — never leave the wood soaking or sitting wet. Keep it out of the dishwasher, microwave, and oven. When the surface starts to look dry or chalky, rub in a little food-grade mineral oil and let it absorb overnight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan they go in the dishwasher?\u003c\/strong\u003e No. Heat and prolonged water will crack the wood.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it come ready to give?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes. The set ships in a cotton bag — no additional wrapping needed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere in Italy does the wood come from?\u003c\/strong\u003e Umbria, the same central Italian region as Deruta, where Biordi's hand-painted majolica is made. Umbria is one of Italy's principal olive-growing areas, and the wood comes from trees retired after decades of fruiting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this a good Italian wedding gift?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — especially paired with a hand-painted Deruta serving piece. Wood and majolica together make a complete table gift at a moderate price.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this a good housewarming or hostess gift?\u003c\/strong\u003e One of the best. Small, useful, immediately in service, arrives gift-ready in its cotton bag, and it suits any kitchen style.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy buy Italian gifts from Biordi rather than other retailers?\u003c\/strong\u003e Biordi Art Imports has been San Francisco's source for authentic Italian ceramics and tableware since 1946. We're a San Francisco Legacy Business (#LBR-2020-21-029), the City declared May 1 \"Biordi Art Imports Day\" in 2021, and we were voted Best Overall Retailer in the SF Bay Guardian Best of the Bay reader's poll five years running. Everything we sell is sourced directly from Italian workshops we know by name.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan this be customized or personalized?\u003c\/strong\u003e Not this piece. Customization and personalization are available on select hand-painted ceramics — Eugenio Ricciarelli, FIMA, Pia Formato, and Geribi accept special orders. Contact Biordi Art Imports at (415) 392-8096 or customerservice@biordi.com.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eArtisan Story\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUmbrian olivewood\u003c\/strong\u003e — Umbria is olive country. The same hills that produce the region's oil produce the wood, because olive trees are only cut once they stop bearing fruit, often after fifty years or more. The wood that comes out of them is hard, tight-grained, and darkly figured, and Umbrian woodturners have shaped it into kitchen and table pieces for centuries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUmbria\u003c\/strong\u003e — Umbria is also home to Deruta, the hill town that has produced Biordi's hand-painted majolica since 1946. Wood and majolica from the same region sit naturally on the same table.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Verve Culture","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48928558907445,"sku":"6751","price":50.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1001\/9802\/files\/7130eba6417c2c2acec99c80d51f6261525022865a23ef47a618312059f2a519.jpg?v=1789865376","url":"https:\/\/biordi.com\/products\/italian-olivewood-aperitivo-bowls-set-of-4","provider":"Biordi Art Imports","version":"1.0","type":"link"}