Siena Charger Plate, Full Design
DESCRIPTION A hand-painted Italian charger plate in the Siena Full Design pattern, made by the FIMA workshop in Deruta, Italy. The charger is the large under-plate that anchors a f ormal place setting — sized to frame a dinner plate and visually elevate the whole setting at the table. Siena is a strikingly elegant Deruta pattern in black and dark red, built around the figure of a sitting deer reproduced from a 13th-century mosaic marble inlay on the floor of the Siena Cathedral. The deer is believed to represent the emblem of a prestigious family. On a charger, the Full Design has the surface area it deserves — the deer figure and surrounding heraldic ornament read as a centerpiece even before any food arrives. Works as a formal place setting under-plate, or displayed on a plate rack, mantel, or sideboard between meals. The dark palette makes Siena particularly suited to autumn and winter tables, holiday meals, and formal occasions. Pairs naturally with Siena 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: Large charger plate (under-plate / display plate) Material: Hand-painted majolica (tin-glazed earthenware) Made in: Deruta, Italy Workshop: FIMA (successor to CAMA for the Classic Deruta lines) Pattern: Siena, Full Design — black and dark red with sitting deer motif Heritage: 13th-century Siena Cathedral marble inlay Care: Dishwasher safe · Food safe · Not microwave safe · Not oven safe Sold as: Individual charger plate Mixes with: Siena (Simplified), Antico Deruta, Ricco Deruta, Raffaellesco, Orvieto, Bordato, plus older CAMA-workshop pieces Questions buyers ask What is a charger plate? A large decorative under-plate that goes beneath the dinner plate at a formal place setting. It's not meant to hold food directly — it frames the dinner plate and adds a layer of color and pattern to the place setting. Many people also display chargers between meals on a plate rack, mantel, or sideboard. What is the Siena pattern? A classic Deruta dinnerware design in black and dark red, built around the figure of a sitting deer. The pattern is a reproduction of a 13th-century mosaic marble inlay found on the floor of the Siena Cathedral. The deer is believed to represent the emblem of a prestigious family. What's the difference between Siena Full Design and Simplified? The Full Design carries the deer figure and surrounding ornament in full detail — it's the showpiece, which is why it works particularly well on a charger plate at this size. The Simplified version uses the same black-and-red palette in a pared-down composition, sized for everyday use. The two mix at the same table by design. Who makes the Siena 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. Every piece is hand-painted by a single artisan at the FIMA workshop in Deruta, 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. Siena is built to coordinate with Antico Deruta, Ricco Deruta, Raffaellesco, Orvieto, and Bordato. 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 Siena — This black-and-dark-red majolica pattern features the figure of a sitting deer. The classic and elegant design is a reproduction of a 13th-century mosaic marble inlay found on the floor of the Siena Cathedral, one of Italy's most celebrated marble pavements. The deer is believed to represent the emblem of a prestigious family, carrying that medieval heraldic meaning into the modern table. 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.
