Raffaellesco: Rooster Pitcher, 2 Qt.

A hand-painted Italian 2-quart rooster pitcher in the Raffaellesco pattern, made by the FIMA workshop in Deruta, Italy. A sculptural vessel modeled in the form of a rooster — a tradition with deep roots in Renaissance Florence (see The Legend below) — painted in Biordi's most appreciated pattern of classic Italian dinnerware.

Raffaellesco is a stylized golden dragon design reputedly first painted by Raphael in the 16th century. The dragon is a benevolent deity: the puffs of wind streaming from its mouth represent the fair winds it bestows on seagoing merchants. On a rooster pitcher, the dragon scrolls wrap around the body and tail of the bird, giving a layered reading of two of Italy's most enduring good-luck symbols at once.

Use the pitcher for wine service in the Italian tradition, for water at a long meal, or as a sculptural piece on a sideboard between meals. Pairs naturally with Raffaellesco dinnerware and the sibling Classic Deruta patterns, including older CAMA-workshop pieces. A traditional Italian wedding or housewarming gift because of its layered symbolism.

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.

The origin of Italian rooster pitchers dates back to the early Renaissance, 15th-century Florence. The Medici family ruled Florence as its wealthiest and most powerful dynasty, and a rival family — the Pazzi — resented their dominance and vowed to overthrow them. After multiple failed attempts to assassinate the Medici, the Pazzi enlisted a double agent to lure them to a lavish party in the village of Gallina, where their assassins planned to attack once the Medici guards were drunk.

As the Pazzi assassins crossed a field of roosters on the outskirts of the village, the roosters crowed. The Medici guards woke, defended the family, and captured the would-be assassins.

The next day, the Medici ordered Florence's artisans to pay homage to the roosters by creating ceramic pitchers in their image. The Medici used these vessels as wine pitchers as they celebrated their survival. After 1478, the Medici sent each Gallina family a ceramic rooster as a symbol of good luck. The tradition spread across the 16th century and into modern Italian-American homes, where rooster pitchers became one of the classic wedding and housewarming gifts. "Il Buon Gallo" — the Good Rooster — has come to symbolize luck, abundance, and prosperity.

Dimensions: 2-quart capacity, rooster-form pitcher
Material: Hand-painted majolica (tin-glazed earthenware)
Made in: Deruta, Italy
Workshop: FIMA (successor to CAMA for the Classic Deruta lines)
Pattern: Raffaellesco — golden dragon with blue accents on cream ground
Heritage: 16th-century Raffaellesco design reputedly painted by Raphael + 15th-century Medici rooster pitcher tradition
Care: Dishwasher safe · Food safe · Not microwave safe · Not oven safe
Sold as: Individual pitcher
Mixes with: Raffaellesco dinnerware, Antico Deruta, Ricco Deruta, Siena, Orvieto, Bordato, plus older CAMA-workshop pieces

What is an Italian rooster pitcher?
A hand-painted ceramic pitcher modeled in the form of a rooster, a tradition that dates to 15th-century Florence and the Medici family (see The Legend above). "Il Buon Gallo" — the Good Rooster — has become an enduring symbol of luck, abundance, and prosperity in Italian and Italian-American homes. Often given as a wedding or housewarming gift.

What is the Raffaellesco pattern?
Biordi's most appreciated pattern of classic Italian dinnerware. A stylized golden dragon is the central motif, reputedly first painted by Raphael, the master painter and architect of the Italian High Renaissance, in the 16th century. The dragon is a benevolent deity that bestows good luck and fair winds on seagoing merchants — the puffs of wind streaming from its mouth represent that blessing. It is hailed as one of Deruta's most challenging designs in all of majolica.

Can I still order this if it shows out of stock?
Yes — every Raffaellesco piece can be reordered as a special order at the FIMA workshop in Deruta. Lead time is typically 3–6 months because each piece is hand-painted to order in Italy. Contact Biordi at (415) 392-8096 or customerservice@biordi.com.

Who makes the Raffaellesco pattern?
The FIMA workshop in Deruta, Italy. FIMA is the master workshop that produces Biordi's Classic Deruta dinnerware lines — Antico Deruta, Ricco Deruta, Raffaellesco, Siena, Orvieto, and Bordato.

Is FIMA the same as CAMA?
FIMA is the workshop in Deruta now producing the Classic Deruta patterns once made by CAMA, the historic Deruta workshop that originated several of these designs. The patterns themselves are essentially the same. What differs is the artisan's hand — FIMA's painters use slightly different color tones than CAMA's did. The two work well together: if you have CAMA pieces in your collection, you can add FIMA pieces today and the table will read as one cohesive group.

Is it really hand-painted?
Yes — and Raffaellesco is one of the most challenging patterns to paint in all of Deruta. Every piece is hand-painted by a single artisan at the FIMA workshop, 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.

Is it dishwasher safe?
Yes — dishwasher safe and food safe. Not microwave safe (the underglaze can stress under microwave heat) and not oven safe.

Can I mix this with other Deruta patterns?
Yes — that's a deliberate design choice. Raffaellesco is built to coordinate with Antico Deruta, Ricco Deruta, Siena, Orvieto, and Bordato.

Is this a good Italian wedding gift?
Yes — a rooster pitcher is one of the most traditional Italian-American wedding gifts because of the Good Rooster's centuries-old association with luck, abundance, and prosperity. In Raffaellesco, the symbolism doubles: the dragon adds the meaning of fair winds for new ventures. 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 good 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 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.

Raffaellesco — This is Biordi's most appreciated pattern of classic Italian dinnerware, ceramics, and pottery. The stylized golden dragon, seen as the central motif, was reputedly painted in the 16th century by Raphael — the master painter and architect of the Italian High Renaissance. The Raffaellesco dragon has come to be known as a benevolent deity who bestows good luck and fair winds on seagoing merchants; the puffs of wind streaming from the dragon's mouth represent that blessing. It is hailed as one of Deruta's most challenging designs in all of majolica, as its intricacy requires an unimaginably steady hand.

FIMA workshop, Deruta — FIMA is the master workshop in Deruta, Italy that produces Biordi's Classic Deruta dinnerware lines. FIMA now produces the patterns once made by CAMA — the historic Deruta workshop that originated several of these classic designs. The patterns themselves are essentially the same. What differs is the artisan's hand: FIMA's painters work with slightly different color tones than CAMA's did, but the two work beautifully together. If you collected CAMA pieces years ago, you can add FIMA pieces today and the table will read as one cohesive group. Every Antico Deruta, Ricco Deruta, Raffaellesco, Siena, Orvieto, and Bordato piece in Biordi's catalog is hand-painted at the FIMA workshop in Deruta.

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.