DESCRIPTION A 4-inch hand-painted Italian mini condiment bowl in the Raffaellesco pattern, made by the FIMA workshop in Deruta, Italy. A small but versatile vessel for olive oil, olives, sea salt, nuts, dipping sauces, or any small accompaniment at a meal. Raffaellesco is Biordi's most appreciated pattern of classic Italian dinnerware — a stylized golden dragon reputedly first painted by Raphael 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. On a small bowl, the pattern reads as a focused accent. An affordable entry point into Raffaellesco, often bought in pairs or sets of four. Pairs naturally with Raffaellesco dinnerware and the sibling Classic Deruta patterns, including older CAMA-workshop pieces. 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. Specifications Dimensions: 4" diameter × 2" tall 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 design reputedly painted by Raphael Care: Dishwasher safe · Food safe · Not microwave safe · Not oven safe Sold as: Individual condiment bowl (pre-order) Mixes with: Raffaellesco dinnerware, Antico Deruta, Ricco Deruta, Siena, Orvieto, Bordato, plus older CAMA-workshop pieces Questions buyers ask What does "pre-order" mean for this piece? This bowl is currently sold-through. Pre-ordering reserves your place in the next production run 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 [email protected] to place a pre-order. 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. What do I use a mini condiment bowl for? Olive oil for bread dipping, brined olives at antipasti, sea salt at the table, nuts, dipping sauces, condiments alongside a charcuterie board, capers, or anything that's served in a small portion. Many customers buy four for a place-setting at formal meals. 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 — the small format makes it affordable to buy as a set of four or six. 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. 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 [email protected]. Artisan Story 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.
