Original Vintage Giovanni DeSimone Hand-Painted Italian Espresso Cup & Saucer – Boy

This is an original vintage piece by Giovanni DeSimone, acquired by Biordi and offered as a one-of-a-kind collectible. It dates from the mid-20th-century period when Giovanni DeSimone shared his Palermo studio's innovation of bright red in glazed ceramics with Pablo Picasso. It is not a current-production piece — once sold, it will not be replaced.

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.

Piece: Vintage Hand-Painted Espresso Cup & Saucer (Boy motif)
Period: Mid-20th century
Made in: Palermo, Sicily
Artist: Giovanni DeSimone (original studio era)
Material: Vintage Sicilian majolica (tin-glazed earthenware)
Provenance: Acquired by Biordi Art Imports from collector or estate
Condition: Vintage — expect light surface wear consistent with age; specific condition graded conservatively
Care: Display piece · Hand-wash only if used for occasional food contact · Not dishwasher safe · Not microwave safe · Treat as a vintage collectible
Authentication: Biordi has been the US distributor for the DeSimone studio since the studio's earliest years in America

Is this an original Giovanni DeSimone?
Yes — it was acquired by Biordi from a collector or estate. Not a reproduction, not a contemporary piece. It bears the original Giovanni-era studio mark.

How does Biordi authenticate vintage Giovanni DeSimone pieces?
Biordi Art Imports was the first US distributor of Giovanni DeSimone's work and has been working with the studio for over half a century. We authenticate by reference to the studio mark, characteristic glazes (especially the bright red Picasso loved), and the cubist line that defines the work.

What condition is this in?
Vintage. Expect light surface wear consistent with mid-20th-century use. Specific condition is graded conservatively per piece. The photos show actual condition.

Can I use this on a table?
We recommend treating vintage Giovanni DeSimone pieces as display collectibles. Hand-wash only if used for occasional food contact. These are 50+ year-old artisanal pieces and deserve careful handling.

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, 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.

The Susanna DeSimone artistic tradition was founded in Palermo, Sicily, by her father Giovanni DeSimone — a renowned and innovative artisan known for intense colors and a cubist drawing style similar to Pablo Picasso. Early in his career, Giovanni DeSimone worked alongside Picasso, and the two shared an innovation: the use of bright red in glazed ceramics, which Picasso loved. "I express what comes through my imagination, filtering old and new memories, comparing my experiences and my understanding," Giovanni DeSimone wrote in 1991.

Biordi Art Imports was the first US distributor of Giovanni DeSimone's work — a relationship that began in the studio's earliest years in America and continues today with his daughter, Susanna DeSimone, who carries the tradition forward. Her limited production bears her signature alongside the studio's new name, Fabbrica della Ceramica.

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.