Whether you have a sun-soaked Amalfi getaway planned this year, or a trip to the Venice Biennale to discover the best in contemporary art, it's fair to say that we have a romanticised notion of the Italian summer. The expressive, colourful allure of painted Italian ceramics are similarly aligned with this idea, and embody the country's vibrant culture and design tradition. From hand-painted plates made by artisans in Vietri sul Mare and Deruta, to traditional Puglian splatterware and marbleware, certain techniques and styles are passed down through generations and have deep ties to specific regions and towns.
Visiting these workshops in Italy to source ceramics is undoubtedly a wonderful way to unearth unique and special pieces with sentimental value. However, it's finding the room, and allowing for the weight in your suitcase that can be a challenge (one which I have undertaken in the past, to safely transport home a set of four pasta plates bought in Vietri). The four stockists below offer a small taste of the diversity of Italian ceramic craft, while also making these artisans' work much more accessible for us in the UK.
Abask
Abask's curated offering is certainly at the more luxurious end of the spectrum, but is also very varied, from vintage mid-century restaurant plates, to marvellously mischievous trompe l'oeil pieces by Este Ceramiche, a studio that has been operating since the 18th century. Majolica is one of the most famous Italian pottery styles, and Abask stock some breathtaking examples.
Toast
As a consistent champion of global craft, it's no surprise that Toast are collaborating with Italian ceramicists working with traditional techniques. The earthy green and cream Cortona collection has been designed in Tuscany, and crafted in Deruta, an Umbrian town with a particularly strong ceramic heritage. The pieces have beautiful, elegant silhouettes and would make a lovely coordinating set.
Big Mamma
The company behind ultra-maximalist, instagram-worthy Italian restaurants such as Jacuzzi, Ave Mario and Barbarella, you know exactly when you're in a Big Mamma joint from the bold, retro interior design. It's a big part of the experience of dining at one of their restaurants, and the crockery on which the food is served is no exception, having been commissioned and crafted at various studios in Italy. They have just launched their online shop, so if you've ever looked longingly at the plate on which your pasta alla vodka was served, now's the chance to snap one up.
The collection blends traditional styles and techniques with Big Mamma's playful sensibility. The head-shaped cocktail glasses (which could equally be used as decorative vases or ornaments) are a particular highlight. Pieces have been handcrafted in Sicily and Umbria; Big Mamma is the exclusive UK stockist of two of the workshops, Fima and Nataloni, both based in Deruta.
Cabana
Cabana is spotlighting traditional marbled pieces from Puglia, a region for which ceramic manufacture stretches back centuries. With an uncontrolled, organic glaze where the colours swirl and mix together, each piece is entirely unique. The rich amber colour would work as a nice foil to Toast's splattered collection.
