Our hand painted majolica dinnerware is dishwasher safe. We recommend handwashing each piece. If you choose to use the dishwasher, please be extremely cautious and use extremely low/energy saver dishwasher cycle. By no means should a high heat cycle be used for daily washing. These italian ceramic pieces should NOT be used in the microwave or oven as they will crack from the high heat exposure. With proper care and use, our gorgeous italian pottery will last a lifetime.

When I order a hand painted ceramic piece from Isola, will I be getting the exact piece I see on the website?

Due to the handmade nature of our products, no two pieces of majolica will be alike. There will be slight variations in color, design and size. Although we try to be as accurate as possible in our descriptions, this is part of the beauty of a handmade product. Sizes are approximate, we try to be as accurate as possible yet there is always a margin of error in measuring a product that created by an artist that uses standard sizes based on the metric system. i:e; We call our standard italian dinnerplate 11" in diameter or 28cm. It actually measures 10 3/4". All measurements on the website are given to convey a general idea about the size of a product. ALL MEASUREMENTS are approximate.

Are there different qualities of Italian Majolica available?

We specifically choose artists that we believe produce the highest quality majolica available in Italy . There will always be slight imperfections in the glazing, afterall- they are handpainted! There are LOTS of "italian-look" ceramics available on the internet, yet we believe that our clients are looking for quality and not quantity. In today's world of mass production, it's easy to find so called "hand painted" ceramics at a cheap price. However, most consumers don't realize that to be considered "hand painted" in Italy, only the finishing brush strokes need to be applied by hand. This is often why we see "hand painted in Italy" on ceramics found in discount stores and on the internet. At Isola, we have established relationships with all our artists and we guarantee that from start to finsh, our product is 100% handmade-this is quality that you can see with your own eyes! We are very proud to have been featured in numerous interior design magazines and international publications.

What is Majolica?

Majolica is tin-glazed earthenware that is often richly colored and decorated, especially an earthenware of this type produced in Italy . Know as majolica, maiolica, italian pottery and italian ceramics. There is no secret to italian pottery. Simply stated, majolica ceramics are a kind of tin-glazed earthenware pottery. Many people associate Italian majolica with ceramic centers in Tuscany and Umbria . Although a large majority of these ceramics come from towns like Montelupo Fiorentino and Deruta, many of the smaller ceramic centers are without due recognition. During the Rennaissance many designs proliferated that are still in production today in places like Deruta. Raffaellesco Dragon, Orvieto Rooster and Ricco Deruta Pattern Dinnerware and Decorative Table accessories are two examples of Rennaissance style design. We are proud to offer a fabulous collection of special order handpainted ceramic tiles from Deruta and Sicily. Some other ceramic centers of the 21st century include Faenza , Albisola, Gubbio, Vietri sul mare, Caltagirone, and Santo Stefano di Camastra. To find out more about the various Majolica centers and the history and tradition behind many of these fascinating designs....click here History of Majolica