Villaggio Ceramics Company Blog | Italian Hand Painted Decorative Ceramics

Whether you are planning a sophisticated summer soiree, a picnic in the park or a backyard barbecue, Italian Majolica platters make a stunning serveware statement for any party.

Celebrity chefs are all over the airwaves this month giving tips on throwing sensational -- but affordable -- summer parties.  One of their main suggestions is to use decorative platters to provide presentation pizzazz and then use inexpensive glasses and plates for food service. 

All chefs agree that presentation is essential to showcase your food in a creative way. If it looks pretty, it tastes wonderful.  Make it fabulous with Italian Majolica platters like these: 

 

Italian Majolica platters work for you all year as a decorative item for your home and the perfect presentation foundation for all the foods your friends and family love to share.  Italian Majolica platters are friendly to the planet as well -- made from natural materials, they last for decades and are a "green" replacement for plastic or paper serveware.

Villaggio Ceramics has many Italian Majolica platters that will serve you and your family for years.  Visit our website or call us at 702-233-1703 and we will be happy to assist you in choosing the perfect gift of Italian Majolica.

June is the month of weddings, but no matter what month is chosen for a wedding, brides all over the world are saying "I do!" to gifts of Italian Majolica.

Our collection of exquisite hand-painted Italian dinnerware showcases the extraordinary genius of Italy's finest ceramic artists. A rich color palette enlivens each piece, and the inability to choose just one favorite is an invitation to mix it up to create your very own dynamic place settings. All of our Italian tableware is 100% food safe.

The beauty of Italian Majolica dinnerware is its ability to be mixed and matched, always providing a stunning table setting.  Here are some of our favorite FIMA and Franco Mari dinner plates:                  

                                                                       

Highly regarded as the most famous interpretation of the Raffaellesco design, CAMA's version is world-renowned for impeccable craftsmanship.  Both of these designs are available as dinner or salad plates:

 

Villaggio Ceramics has many Italian Majolica pieces that serve as wonderful, one-of-a-kind wedding or bridal shower gifts.  Visit our website or call us at 702-233-1703 and we will be happy to assist you in choosing the perfect gift of Italian Majolica.

Summer is upon us, and with it the desire to spend more time outdoors.  The nurseries and landscaping places are all jam-packed each weekend.  Flowers and mulch are being installed in backyards all over the country to welcome a new season.

 

And with all that work put into creating beautiful yards, what better way to enjoy it than with an al fresco meal on the patio? 

 

Villaggio has a number of beautiful, charming Italian tables made of hand-painted Majolica with simple materials from the Tuscan and Umbrian countryside.  These tables are a true heirloom that will enchant your family for generations.

 

Our Italian ceramic tables are made by L'Antica Deruta, one of the superior Majolica manufacturers for years. Established over 50 years ago, the l'Antica Deruta artisans continue to produce some of the best hand-assembled products using age-old techniques originated from Roman times of Deruta and Umbria.

 

During our visit with Georgio Moretti, third generation owner and current office manager, we discovered that the tiles used for the chairs and tables produced by l'Antica Deruta come solely from the Umbria and Tuscany countrysides. These tiles, used within the tables of the Cotto & Pietra collection, have already been tried and conditioned to withstand the test of the elements across time, and are suited for both soft indoor as well as rugged outdoor use.

The hand-made decorations and inlaid works are a testament to the procedures established by the Masters of Deruta, and are unique and exclusive. These vintage, classic pieces are available in a wide variety of styles, shapes and sizes to suit a multitude of uses and applications both indoor and outside.

 

Georgio indicated to us during our visit that due to the size and weight of his tables, transportation takes up to 2-3 months outside of Europe. However, after seeing these Italian Majolica tables first-hand, we are certain that each is well worth the wait as they will last many lifetimes!

 

We have posted four videos on the Villaggio Ceramics website so you can experience for yourself some of the wonderful artistry that we enjoy when we visit our Italian Majolica artisans' studios!

Watch Claywork:  

The elegance in handmade Italian Ceramics begins with the clay.  The finest artisans use lead-free clay, originating in the Umbrian and Tuscan hillsides.  This raw clay is compressed numerous times before making it's way to the potter's wheel table for sculpting.

Watch FIMA artisan Massimo work this piece with minimal tools--a scraper, small bowl of water, wet sponge as well as a section of wire for cutting are all he requires. His years of experience have honed his skills to the point where measurements are nearly unnecessary. 

Watch Biscotti

After the work at the Potter's Wheel is completed, the pieces undergo what is known as the "First Firing", where the clay is baked in an oven at temperatures exceeding 1000 degrees.  Upon cooling, the Clay assumes a reddish color -- these items are referred to as "Biscotti".

Watch Glazing:

Following the cool-down period, the piece is ready for Glazing.  This step is where the pottery begins the transformation from pottery to ceramic.  This process is never rushed, as only the appropriate amount of glaze is used during this step.  When the piece has dried, it will yield the canvas on which the skilled artists will begin to draw and hand-paint their magnificent designs.

Watch Painting:

It is the painting stage that allows for the most flexibility in the creative process.  The Italian artists use colors derived from only organic sources.  Primary colors must be mixed to yield any secondary colors. 

Each painter has their own technique for stabilizing their painting hand to reduce any mistakes in the painting process.  The painting is a time-perfected process that is accurate and focused, yet slow enough for artistic expression. 

Upon completion, the painted pieces are fired a second time in the ovens, and when they emerge they render the most beautiful and vibrant pieces you see for many, many years to come!!  Molto Bella!

I love beautiful things in my kitchen - but it also has to be functional, because I detest counter clutter!  
We now feature stunning Italian Majolica spoon rests from a variety of our Italian ceramic artisans that integrate functionality with spectacular beauty.  These spoon rests will make you smile every time you cook!

Perfect for keeping sauces and other liquids off your countertops or stove, these Majolica spoon rests are lovely enough to give as housewarming gifts as well.

Yesterday, as I was in my kitchen enjoying my morning Italian roast coffee and watching The Today Show, there was a food feature with Ina Garten, better known as The Barefoot Contessa.  Just in time for Easter, she demonstrated a quick, easy recipe for Rack of Lamb that won't cut into your Easter egg hunting time with the kids.  Here it is:

Rack of Lamb
Ina Garten - The Barefoot Contessa
Serves 6

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh rosemary
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 cup Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 2 racks of lamb, "frenched"

DIRECTIONS
In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade, process the salt, rosemary, and garlic until they're as finely minced as possible. Add the mustard and balsamic vinegar and process for 1 minute.

Place the lamb in a roasting pan with the ribs curving down, and coat the tops with the mustard mixture. Allow to stand for 1 hour at room temperature.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

Roast the lamb for exactly 20 minutes for rare or 25 minutes for medium-rare. Remove from the oven and cover with aluminum foil. Allow to sit for 15 minutes, then cut into individual ribs and serve.

And once you've finished spooning the luscious juices over the lamb, give your spoon a beautiful place to rest with a genuine Italian Majolica spoon rest!

Is there anything more romantic than a candle-lit dinner for two?  And if any country is renowned for their passion for romance, it's Italy.  Little wonder, then, that our Italian Majolica artisans take such special care in designing and creating their Majolica candleholders.  It's almost as if they knew the contribution their art will be making to bringing romance into the owner's life!

Candlestick making is one of the oldest of the Italian ceramic crafts, since candles were the only source of light for centuries before the advent of electricity.  We carry a number of beautiful candleholders from some of the finest Majolica artisans, including Francesca Niccacci and FIMA.

Francesca Niccacci studied 16th and 17th Century art with Romano Ranieri, a famous Deruta master, before beginning her own studio where she specializes in the Renaissance Period.  Her beautiful candlestick designs transport you back in time, to a more courtly and easy way of life.

At FIMA, the ancient Deruta traditions of hand-painting each item are observed. Each piece has a corresponding stencil that serves as a master design to ensure likeness. However, each piece is still hand-painted and thus unique unto itself.  Upon completion of the final firing, each piece is allowed to cool, and the end result is utterly amazing. The colors of the pieces are remarkably vivid and full, and serve as a fantastic example of what beauty results when the classic traditional forms are practiced by these skilled artisans!

Bring out your table setting with these luxurious Majolica candlesticks, which are suitable for mixing and matching as you see fit to bring depth to your collection.

This week they celebrate Festa della Donna in Italy - the observance of International Women's Day.  The traditional way to celebrate is for men to give women a gift of yellow mimosa flowers to express their love.  These days, women also gift each other with these fragrant flowers, and gather in cafes and restaurants with their girlfriends to celebrate.

Wouldn't it be great to have a lasting reminder of what the women in your life mean to you with a beautiful Italian Majolica vase to hold those yellow mimosas, and any other arrangements that might come their way throughout the year?

The celebration of the Festa della Donna also acts as one of the first harbingers of spring.  And nothing says "springtime" like the planting of the first flowers in beautiful Italian Majolica planters and pots.

Having a container garden gives you the opportunity to plant early and enjoy a variety of different plant combinations and colors throughout the year.  You can grow virtually anything in containers: vegetables, herbs, cacti and every variety of annual and perennial.  

Having beautiful containers means you can use them as part of your landscape, to form a passageway, define garden spaces or add architectural interest to your yard with different heights and types of plantings.  The beauty of containers is also in their mobility - you can use containers in a shady spot with shade-loving plants, or in a sunny area with plants that require full sun.

Italian Majolica planters and pots add beauty anywhere - to patios, apartment balconies, even rooftops.  And just like women, if they're properly cared for and filled with beauty, they'll bring pleasure to your life for many years to come!

We say cookie, Italians say biscotti.  Biscotti are really cookies, baked twice to give them that hard crunch.  Italians typically serve biscotti with vin santo, an Italian dessert wine; we usually serve them with a coffee drink like a cappuccino or latte and dunking makes both even better!

Biscotti are really easy to make and lasts for weeks in a beautiful Italian Majolica biscotti jar. 

You can leave it plain, or dip it in chocolate (I do!) to make a really decadent treat.  Here's one of my favorite recipes from Lidia's cookbook:

Lidia's Biscotti
Makes 48 cookies

6 cups cake or all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cornmeal
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
2 1/2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1/4 cup anisette
2 cups peeled and toasted whole almonds or hazelnuts

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a 15 x 11-inch jellyroll pan with parchment paper. Stir the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl. Beat the butter with a handheld electric mixer until creamy. As you continue beating, add the sugar gradually, until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the anisette. Pour the dry ingredients and almonds into the bowl, switch to a wooden spoon, and stir until the dough is smooth.

Divide the mixture into two equal portions. Shape each into a loaf 12 inches long by 3 inches wide, making the sides and top even and smooth. Place the loaves side by side on the parchment-lined jellyroll pan, leaving at least 2 inches between them and 1 inch between each loaf and the side of the pan. Bake until loaves are golden and the tops spring back when lightly poked with a finger, about 30 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Cool the loaves until barely warm but still soft enough to cut, about 30 minutes.

Slice the loaves crosswise into 1/2-inch-wide cookies. Lay the cookies on their side and bake until evenly golden brown and very firm, about 10 minutes. Cool completely. Biscotti can be stored in colorful Italian Majolica biscotti jar for up to 2 weeks.

Visit www.lidiasitaly.com for more Italian cooking resources.

One of the most beautiful things about Italian Majolica is that it can be passed down through the generations if you care for it properly.  

The first step is to be sure you purchase genuine Italian Majolica ceramics from a reputable source like Villaggio Ceramics, which works directly with the finest Italian Majolica artisans to bring their art to your table.

Here are some guidelines for using and cleaning your Italian Majolica dinnerware and serveware:

Using:
While Italian Majolica serveware and dinnerware is completely safe for food use, decorative pieces are generally not intended for serving food.

You should not cook or re-heat food in or on Italian Majolica dinnerware and serveware.

Run hot water over your Italian Majolica dishes and serving pieces to temper them before serving hot foods or liquids.  This will help you avoid possible cracking due to an abrupt temperature change.  Some people become concerned about the formation of tiny lines in the glaze, which is called "crazing".  Don't worry; this has no significant effect on the integrity of the ceramics and is purely cosmetic.

Be sure that your Italian Majolica is never put on top of a hot surface, like a burner or open flame.

Large platters or trays should be kept out of the oven because they heat unevenly, which can cause cracking.

Cleaning:
Italian Majolica serveware and dinnerware is also safe in the dishwasher, but should be treated like fine china.  Use the gentle cycle with no or low heat and place the plates or serveware so they don't touch.

Abrasive pads or powders can damage the glaze of your Italian Majolica ceramics. For easy cleaning, fill your sink with warm soapy water and let the piece soak before removing any leftover food with a soft sponge.

My favorite coffee at Starbucks?  An Italian Roast, of course!  Deep, rich and flavorful, I like it brewed so you can stand a spoon in it.  The aroma reminds me of some of the small Italian cafes and coffeehouses I visit on my buying trips, and I love this daily reminder of my many journeys to Italy.

And the perfect mug for this treat is one of my beautiful Italian Majolica mugs from Franco Mari:

Over the last 30 years, Franco Mari has combined the basics of classical Majolica creation with a modern vision to create a variety of stunningly beautiful styles of ceramics. His passion for his art, melded with his own inspiring vision, has brought to life some absolutely thrilling items of Majolica.

On a visit to his showroom, Franco's wife Rita provided us with an in-depth review of the numerous lines and styles created by Franco. As we became familiar with the styles and details, we developed a similar fascination with the origins of some of the names used for his creations.

For example, the Mesa Verde style was created during one of Franco's visits to Colorado, and was inspired by the scenery and environment. His line of Gladys Alaska was named after a loyal client named Gladys who lives in Alaska. There proved to be many styles, colors and optional shapes to choose from with Franco Mari's creations.



As Rita continued to show us more items, we noticed that many of the different lines compliment each other, and mixed-style table settings work just as well with those of a single design. This benefit facilitates choosing from different styles as one completes a collection.





As the majority of Mari's items are made to order, it is common to have a signature or customized inscription on the bottom of the items. This is easily done with a small 10% charge for personalization.