Sole Folk Planter 7"

This Sole Folk Planter is hand-painted by Susanna DeSimone at her family's studio — Fabbrica della Ceramica — in Palermo, Sicily, as part of her Folk line. A smiling sun face with rosy cheeks, ringed in teal, sits inside a burst of bright orange petals and fine yellow rays. "Sole" means sun. It is drawn in the bold, playful line the DeSimone family has been known for since Giovanni DeSimone worked alongside Pablo Picasso.

The square planter has a glazed white body, a natural unglazed terracotta rim, and four small feet. At 7" x 7", it holds a small houseplant, herbs, succulents, or an orchid — or use it as a utensil crock or catch-all.

Each Susanna DeSimone piece is hand-crafted, hand-glazed, and hand-painted in Palermo, so no two are ever identical.

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.

Dimensions: 7" x 7" (16.5 x 20 cm)
Material: Hand-painted Sicilian majolica (tin-glazed earthenware) with unglazed terracotta rim
Made in: Palermo, Sicily
Workshop: Susanna DeSimone, Fabbrica della Ceramica
Pattern: Sole, Folk line — smiling sun face with orange petals and teal ring; a Susanna DeSimone original
Heritage: Sicilian majolica in the cubist-folk style of Giovanni DeSimone
Uses: Indoor planter · cachepot · utensil crock or catch-all
Care: Wipe clean with a damp cloth · Not dishwasher safe · Not microwave safe · Not oven safe · Best indoors or in a covered spot; bring inside before frost
Sold as: Individual planter
Mixes with: The Gallo Folk Planter; other Susanna DeSimone Folk pieces
Signature: Each piece signed by Susanna DeSimone; bears the "Fabbrica della Ceramica" studio mark

Is it for plants or for the kitchen?
Either. It is made as a planter, and it also works as a crock for wooden spoons or a catch-all on a desk.

Can I plant directly in it, and can it go outside?
For best results, keep your plant in its nursery pot and set it inside, so you can water without soaking the ceramic. It is best kept indoors or in a covered spot. Bring it inside before frost, since freezing can crack hand-glazed ceramics.

Does it come in another design?
Yes. The same Folk planter comes as the Gallo Folk Planter, with a rooster. The two look wonderful side by side on a windowsill.

What's the difference between Susanna DeSimone and Giovanni DeSimone?
Giovanni DeSimone founded the studio in Palermo and worked alongside Pablo Picasso, who loved his innovation of using bright red in glazed ceramics. Susanna DeSimone is Giovanni's daughter and continues the studio today as Fabbrica della Ceramica. She paints in a similar cubist-folk style with her own palette and signature.

Is this a good Christmas gift?
Yes. This sun face planter, hand-painted by Susanna DeSimone in Palermo, Sicily, is an Italian Christmas gift that's ready to plant — tuck a small poinsettia, amaryllis, or rosemary inside for the holidays, and it stays out all year. Order by December 15, 2026 for ground shipping in time for Christmas, or add Florentine gift wrap at checkout and we'll send it ready to give.

What's a good Christmas gift for someone who loves plants?
The Sole Folk Planter. It is hand-painted and signed by Susanna DeSimone in Palermo, and it turns any houseplant into a piece of Italian folk art.

Is this a good Italian wedding gift?
Yes — on its own or with other Susanna DeSimone pieces. A signed, hand-painted piece from a historic Palermo studio is a gift the couple will keep for years.

Is this a good housewarming or hostess gift?
Yes — add a plant and it's a ready-made housewarming gift. We gift-wrap on request and ship nationwide.

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.

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.

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 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.