Italian Proverb Tray 11: What matters is health

A small hand-painted Italian ceramic proverb tray from the Castelli region, made by Antonio Di Francesco (IDEART). The tray is inscribed in Italian with a traditional proverb — "L'importante è la salute" — which translates to "What matters is health" or, more loosely, "Good health comes first." This is one of the most quoted phrases in Italian everyday speech, used at meals, at toasts, and as a closing benediction.

At 4" × 4" × 0.5", the tray is sized as a coin dish, ring dish, candle base, or small countertop accent — not a serving piece. It's made of hand-painted majolica from Castelli, the historic ceramic town in the Abruzzo region perched on a ridge of the Apennines beneath the Gran Sasso mountain. Castelli has its own distinct ceramic tradition (distinct from Deruta further north), and Antonio's work carries it forward.

Use it on an entry console as a key tray, in a bathroom as a ring or earring dish, on a kitchen windowsill as a small reminder, or at a place setting as a name card holder. A favorite under-$25 Italian gift — meaningful, made-in-Italy, and small enough to mail. One of a series of Italian Proverb Trays in this format.

Dimensions: 4" wide × 4" deep × 0.5" high
Material: Hand-painted majolica (tin-glazed earthenware)
Made in: Castelli, Abruzzo, Italy
Artisan: Antonio Di Francesco (IDEART)
Proverb: L'importante è la salute — "What matters is health"
Care: Hand-wash recommended · Wipe clean with a soft, damp cloth · Not dishwasher recommended · Not microwave safe · Not oven safe
Sold as: Individual tray

What does the proverb mean?
Literally: "What matters is health." In everyday Italian usage it's an all-purpose blessing — said at meals, at toasts, after sneezes, and as a way of putting smaller worries in perspective.

How big is it?
Small — 4 inches square and only half an inch high. A coin dish, ring dish, or small accent, not a serving piece.

Where is Castelli?
A hilltop town in the Abruzzo region of central Italy, on a ridge of the Apennines beneath the Gran Sasso mountain. Castelli has its own ceramic tradition, separate from Deruta.

Who is Antonio Di Francesco?
A Castelli artisan who works directly with the local volcanic-clay tradition. His IDEART workshop produces a series of proverb trays, each with a different Italian saying.

Is it food safe?
Not intended for food contact. Use as a small decorative tray, coin dish, ring dish, or candle base.

Are there other proverbs in the series?
Yes — this is Proverb Tray #11. Biordi carries other numbers in the series.

Is this a good Italian wedding gift?
Yes — wedding gifts are one of the things Biordi is best known for. Hand-painted Italian ceramics are heirloom-quality, one-of-a-kind (no two pieces are ever exactly alike because each is hand-painted by a single artisan), and they carry their origin clearly: this piece is made in Castelli, Italy. Couples actually use and display Biordi pieces rather than store them. 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. Gifts are the largest part of what Biordi sells — every piece is a one-of-a-kind, authentic Italian treasure made by a named artisan in Italy, not a mass-produced import. Arrives ready to use rather than store. 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 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.

Castelli, precariously perched on a capricious ridge of the Apennines. In the shadow of Gran Sasso works Antonio Di Francesco, shaping the same earth that occasionally wobbles his wheel and studio. Antonio’s works — and the views — breathtaking!

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.