DESCRIPTION A hand-painted Italian dinner plate in the Raffaellesco pattern — Simplified variant — made in Deruta by the FIMA workshop. Raffaellesco is one of the most distinctive patterns in Italian majolica: a stylized golden dragon, attributed to the Renaissance master Raphael, set against gold-and-blue scrollwork. In Italian folk tradition, the dragon brings good luck and fair winds. Each plate is painted by a single artisan. This is the 11-inch dinner plate in the Simplified version — the dragon and scrollwork appear at the rim only, leaving the plate's center plain. The quieter presentation pairs beautifully with the Full Design pieces in the same setting, or stands alone as a more restrained Raffaellesco statement. The piece is made of tin-glazed earthenware — known as majolica — and at $85 represents one of the most accessible entry points into the Raffaellesco line. Small variations in color, line, and shape are signs of authentic hand-painting. Use it as the dinner plate in a Raffaellesco place setting — many collectors pair the Simplified 11" dinner plate with the Full Design 8" salad plate (the contrast between Simplified and Full reads as deliberate and elegant). It also mixes with Ricco Deruta, Antico Deruta, Siena Vario, Orvieto Green Rooster, and Bordato. Specifications Dimensions: 11" diameter Material: Hand-painted majolica (tin-glazed earthenware) Made in: Deruta, Italy Workshop: FIMA Pattern: Raffaellesco — Simplified (dragon and scrollwork at rim only) Mixes with: Ricco Deruta, Antico Deruta, Siena Vario, Orvieto Green Rooster, Bordato Care: Dishwasher safe (top rack recommended) · Not microwave safe · Not oven safe · Food safe · Hand-wash recommended for longevity Sold as: Individual plate Questions buyers ask What's the difference between Simplified and Full Design? Simplified places the dragon and scrollwork at the rim only, leaving the center plain. Full Design covers the entire plate edge-to-edge with the dragon and scrollwork. Can I mix them in the same setting? Yes — many collectors deliberately pair a Simplified dinner plate with a Full Design salad plate, so each course shows different amounts of the pattern. Is it dishwasher safe? Yes — top rack recommended. Is it food safe? Yes. Who painted the original Raffaellesco? Attributed to Raphael, the Italian High Renaissance master, in the 16th century. Is it really hand-painted? Yes — each plate is the work of a single artisan at the FIMA workshop in Deruta, Italy. 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 Deruta, 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 [email protected]. ARTISAN STORY Raffaellesco - This is Biordi's most appreciated pattern of the classic Italian dinnerware, ceramics and pottery. The stylized 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 to seagoing merchants, thus the puffs of wind steaming from the dragon’s mouth. It is hailed as one of Deruta’s most challenging designs of any Maiolica out there, as its intricacy requires an unimaginably steady hand. When you order this hand-painted Classic Deruta Dinnerware you can mix these patterns with the other designs from Deruta including: Ricco Deruta, Antico Deruta, Siena, Orvieto Green Rooster and Bordato.
