Hand-painted in Gubbio, the Lustre Christmas ornaments are a masterpiece of craftsmanship, bringing together the charm of traditional artistry with the magic of the season.
They are handcrafted by Rampini, artisans based in Gubbio. Founded by Pietro Rampini in 1954, this family-run studio is well-known for the sophisticated, elegant quality of its ceramics.
Continue readingPandoro, a name closely associated with Italian Christmas traditions, is a beloved dessert that has won the hearts of millions around the world. Its unique shape, rich buttery flavor, and fine texture make it a quintessential holiday treat in Italy.
Deeply rooted in Italy’s cultural and festive traditions, Pandoro is strongly linked to craftsmanship, often paired with hand-painted Italian ceramic cake platters. Together, they represent centuries of tradition.
Just as the Pandoro recipe has been perfected over generations, Italian ceramic cake platters are frequently passed down through families, becoming heirlooms that connect generations through their shared enjoyment of Christmas and family celebrations.
The history of Pandoro is not just about its delicious taste but also about the cultural and historical context that gave birth to one of the most iconic pastries in the world.
The origins of Pandoro can be traced back to Verona, a city in northern Italy. Verona has a long history of baking traditions, and it is here that the story of Pandoro begins. The name “pandoro” itself is quite revealing; “pan” means “bread” in Italian, while “oro” translates to “gold.” This golden bread reflects the rich, luxurious nature of the dessert.
Continue readingAs lovers and collectors of Italian arts and crafts, we often go out of our way to bring you hidden treasures from our country.
One of our most recent discoveries is the rich tradition of Italian pocket knives. Over the centuries, nearly every Italian region has contributed to this unique form of craftsmanship.
The geography of Italy has greatly influenced its people and their activities, leading local artisans to create specialized tools that suit the specific tasks of their communities, whether in farming, hunting, or breeding. Consequently, knife makers from different areas have designed blades tailored to meet everyday needs, reflecting the lifestyles of our ancestors.
While exploring the fascinating history of Italian knife making, we came across the Berti and Consigli regional pocket knives—two outstanding collections of meticulously crafted blades. These collections not only celebrate Italy’s regional diversity but also serve as powerful symbols of the enduring legacy of Italian artisanship and cultural richness.
Berti and Consigli, two small yet prestigious Tuscan companies, have embraced the centuries-old tradition of Italian knife-making. Over the past hundred years, they have hand-forged some of Italy’s finest knives, ranging from functional kitchen and steak knives to exquisite pocket knives.
Continue readingDear fellow holiday enthusiasts,
We’re excited to unveil something truly special for this Christmas season: our very first annual edition hand-painted Christmas ornament.
This hand-painted collectible Italian Christmas ornament 2024 is more than just a decoration; it’s a piece of art that captures the magic of one of the world’s most iconic Christmas trees – you can read more about it below.
We plan to introduce a new, unique ornament every year, with each piece representing the rich tradition of Italian ceramic art. The ornaments will be marked with the year of creation and signed by the artist to guarantee their authenticity. Begin your collection this year and enhance your holiday décor with a touch of Italian artistry.
Keepsake boxes are versatile Italian treasures, perfect as jewelry holders, party favors, candy boxes, or bomboniere.
While you may be familiar with the tradition of party favors, the bomboniere tradition might need some explaining for those who are not Italian.
Bomboniere are traditional gifts given to guests as tokens of gratitude for attending a wedding, christening, first communion, confirmation, or graduation party.
Continue readingPanettone is the ultimate Italian Christmas cake, instantly recognizable for its domed shape and its sweet, buttery dough studded with candied fruits and raisins.
Baking a panettone at home is a labor of love, but if you are up for the challenge, you can find a recipe at the end of this post. If you do not feel confident enough to make it yourself, don’t worry!
Most Italians purchase it from their favorite pasticceria, and you can probably find a quality Panettone at your local specialty store.
Continue readingFor us Italians, espresso is more than a drink; it’s a moment of pure pleasure. You’ll often see us savoring our daily shot with closed eyes, relishing in the moment.
There is no simple answer to the question of how Italians prefer their espresso. If you were to watch four Italians ordering their daily espresso at a bar, you would notice that each of them requests a different type of coffee. They may ask for differences in temperature, quantity, brewing process, or ingredients.
To help you understand the basics of Italian espresso culture, here is a brief menu, which you can use to try different varieties and find your favorite espresso. It might even inspire you to plan your next trip to Italy to test your knowledge!
Continue readingSelecting the perfect dinnerware set requires careful consideration. With so many options in terms of brands, designs, and materials, and considering the cost involved, the task can be daunting.
If one of the options you are considering is purchasing hand-painted Italian dinner plates, I can definitely give you the lowdown.
Italian dinnerware sets are usually crafted from ceramic, a word that comes from the Greek term “keramos,” which means “clay.” Ceramic covers a range of materials, including porcelain and pottery. Most Italian dinnerware is made from earthenware fired at temperatures around 1800°F to 2100°F. This tradition goes way back – there’s evidence of earthenware pieces dating back to 1400-1200 BC.
Continue readingLemons have been decorating Italian pottery for centuries, especially in the Southern regions of our beautiful country. Whether sculpted, molded or painted, lemons are a favorite subject for Sicilian heads, dinnerware, tiles, backsplash panels and a vast array of home décor accessories.
Since antiquity, lemon trees have been considered a valuable luxury and a symbol of prosperity. Their fruit is a symbol of the Mediterranean lifestyle, sunny outdoors, blue skies and leafy greens. Lemons’ sunny yellow evokes energy, light, warmth. No wonder lemons have been inspiring generations of Italian artists and artisans!
Lemon-themed ceramics are the perfect accents for Mediterranean decor style. A geographical variation of the much broader coastal decor trend, it focuses on light and warm color schemes, and extensive use of natural materials such as ceramics, wood, and wrought iron. Statement pieces, such as bold ceramic Sicilian heads, large planters, rich textiles and tilework, are often used to amp up the space’s color.
The proverbial phrase “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade” has somehow given lemons a bad rap. It implies lemons are sour or difficult, when they are quite the contrary. Perhaps the person who coined that phrase just never visited Italy in late spring, when luscious lemons are at the peak of their harvest. Picking a large, untreated lemon directly from a tree overlooking the Mediterranean Sea releases a rush of sweet, citrusy aromas that intoxicate the brain. Left to ripen on the tree, the lemon actually becomes sweeter, so much so that some Italians love to eat them plain with just a pinch of salt.
Although originally from Asia, the lemon tree has been cultivated in Italy since as early as Ancient Roman times. They were grown along the coastline as a prime crop, thanks to their high levels of vitamin C which were important in preventing scurvy among sailors. Today lemons are as “Italian” as olives, espresso, and handmade ceramics. The mild, sunny Mediterranean weather – especially in Sicily and along the Amalfi Coast – is the ideal climate for the tree.
The Trinacria, also known as Triskelion, is the familiar three-legged symbol of Sicily.
Everywhere you go in Sicily, you will see a Trinacria, the symbol of our beautiful island. And if you are tempted to bring one home, you’ll have plenty of choices, from sophisticated ceramic Trinacria wall plates from Caltagirone to inexpensive fridge magnets. Of course, we do hope that you’ll go for one of the stunning Sicilian pottery pieces handmade by local artists and artisans, such as Ghenos or Sofia.
Regardless of your choice, you may want to learn about the origin of the Trinacria and impress your fellow travelers with some captivating anecdotes about the origins of Sicily and its three-legged symbol.
Let’s explore the island’s myths and legends, one by one.
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