Vignoli Modern Italian Handcrafted Espresso Cup Design 1

DESCRIPTION

A handcrafted espresso cup by the Vignoli sisters of Faenza, hand-painted with an anchovy design and finished in copper. 2.5" tall by 3.25" wide — the right size for a proper espresso or macchiato, and useful for sake, a small dessert, or olives.

The copper is the reason to look twice. Saura and Ivana Vignoli use a glazing and firing technique that brings a metallic sheen up out of the surface after firing, so the finish shifts as the light moves across it. No two cups come out alike.

These pair naturally with Graffeo Coffee, the North Beach roaster Biordi carries — a San Francisco roast in a Faenza cup.

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: 2.5"h x 3.25"w
Material: Hand-painted Italian ceramic with copper glaze
Made in: Faenza, Emilia-Romagna
Workshop: Vignoli — Saura and Ivana Vignoli
Pattern: Anchovy design, Cup 1
Heritage: Faenza, where ceramics have been an economic backbone of the region for five centuries
Care: Hand-wash recommended · Not dishwasher, microwave or oven safe
Sold as: individual, one-of-a-kind
Mixes with: other Vignoli pieces, Graffeo Coffee, plain white

Questions buyers ask

Does it come with a saucer?
The cup is sold on its own. Vignoli plates in the same copper finish work as a saucer if you want the pair.

Is every cup different?
Yes. The copper finish comes out of the firing rather than being painted on flat, so no two cups are alike.

What size espresso does it hold?
At 2.5" x 3.25" it takes a single or double shot comfortably — it is a true espresso cup, not a demitasse-sized decorative piece.

Can it go in the dishwasher?
No. Hand-wash — copper-glazed surfaces do not belong in a dishwasher.

Is this a good Italian wedding gift?
Yes, as a set of two or four. Espresso cups are a gift couples remember using rather than storing.

Is this a good housewarming or hostess gift?
Yes, and a pair of them with a bag of Graffeo coffee is one of the easiest gifts in the shop.

Why buy Italian gifts from Biordi rather than other retailers?
Biordi Art Imports has been San Francisco's source for authentic Italian ceramics since 1946 and is a San Francisco Legacy Business (#LBR-2020-21-029). Pieces are bought directly from the Italian workshops that make them — FIMA, CF Deruta, Pia Formato, Eugenio Ricciarelli, Susanna DeSimone, Geribi, Bucci Ceramiche, Ortigia Sicilia, Italesse, and Salviati among them. Nothing comes through a distributor.

Can this be customized or personalized?
Vignoli pieces are one-of-a-kind and are not 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 customerservice@biordi.com.

Artisan Story

Copper sheen — The Vignoli sisters use a particular combination of glazes and firing to draw a luminous copper finish out of the surface. Because the result depends on the firing, every piece comes out as unique as a fingerprint.

Vignoli, Faenza (Emilia-Romagna) — Saura and Ivana Vignoli are Biordi's most artistic pair of ceramicists. Their geometric patterns and fish designs, paired with the copper finish, give a modern Italian aesthetic that sits apart from traditional majolica. The Vignoli pattern is part of Biordi's Faenza collection — a town where ceramics formed an economic backbone of the region for five centuries.