Guests of Villa le Barone might not be aware that the tableware in which they are eating, the “Antico Doccia”, is coming from Richard Ginori, a manufacture established in 1735 by marchese Carlo Ginori in Sesto Fiorentino, close to Florence. Quite an interesting business history!

At the end of the 19th century, the firm merges with the Milanese Company “Società Ceramica Richard”, and thus takes the name Richard Ginori. In 1923, the great designer Gio Ponti, takes the artistic direction of the company and in 1925, both the Manufacture and Gio Ponti receive a Grand Prix at the Universal Exhibition of Paris. After the World War II, the Manufacture continues to transform the art of the table into a wonderful ritual. And today, more than ever, Richard Ginori, part of the Kering Group, is the most famous Italian factory remaining true to its historical heritage. It is manufacturing a wide range of products and collections including all-white products table ware, such as the “Antico Doccia”, to air brushed and hand-painted precious collections such as the “Impero Volière” , the “Oriente Italiano”,or the “Paesaggi”. 

Visiting the Richard Ginori manufacture is quite an experience: it has an enormous room that archives the molds they have created since their beginning in 1735, enabling them to re-create pieces that may not have been produced for decades or centuries.  Artists are sculpting decorations for serveware and giftware, and also hand painting the delicate scenes in the Paesaggi collection. The color palette used is proprietary with formulas created and maintained over the centuries by their artisans.

Richard Ginori has also a superb shop in Florence, near to Palazzo Larderel, via dei Rondinelli, worth the detour when you are in Florence!

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