The Romance of VIETRI Incanto

We are getting ready for fall here in Little Washington, Virginia!

The air is cooler, the skies are bluer and clouds are a fluffy white. 

Time to be preparing for holiday entertaining. 

VIETRI is now part of our tabletop collection, all designed and produced in Italy. 

We have INCANTO and LASTRA now available online  as well as in our Main Street shop. And more designs are coming! This particular post will be about the beautiful "Incanto" design.

I am in love with the romance of the four designs of "Incanto". They bring to the table pretty baroque curves, antique Venetian lace, ruffles of the Adriatic Sea, De Medici dots and stripes, all inspired by Italian art and architecture and all ceramics hand formed.

With over 40 accessory pieces and home decor accents to choose from, you can create endless combinations to suit your individual style. Incanto is microwave, oven, freezer, dishwasher safe and handmade of terra marrone, a duarable Italian sculptor's clay, in Veneto. 

Here are several inspiring tabletop shop displays, using both passion purples and neutrals from Le Jacquard Francais table linens. These should help get your creativity going!

Holiday entertaining is right around the corner, so it's never to early to place your orders of VIETRI, which can be drop shipped directly to your door. 

Ordering is super easy from our rhballard.com website.

New Italian Cocktail Glasses from Zafferano

Robert and I love discovering new European products. We found some unique and elegant Italian purses, ceramics and glassware on our recent buying trips this past year. 

A new addition to the shop are several colorful cocktail glasses from the well-known Italian glass manufacturer, Zafferano, which now grace our shelves. Bright, cheerful and ready for a warm spring/summer party, these glasses are exceptionally sturdy and artistically produced. We fell in love with their sparkle and vivid color.

Federico de Majo is the artist of these vibrant creations.  He was raised in his family's vetreria on the isle of Murano. Federico was immersed in the beauty and craft of the glass blower's art and soon became the factory's in-house designer. He left the family business in the 1980's, but has continued his work designing hand-blown and artistic glassware.

 Frederico de Majo

His  enjoyment of good wine led him to set up a company dedicated to the design and production of tasting glasses. Glasses of the Zafferano collection are mouth blown and hand crafted by skilled workers using age-old techniques.  Every item turned out by this craft-based method is unique. No two pieces are exactly alike.

There are many colors in this glass line, and our cocktail collection is sold in six assorted hues: aquamarine, orange, amethyst, hunter green, cobalt blue and yellow. These beautiful glasses are now on our website! Of course you can also visit our lovely shop and gallery to see them up close and personal! 

 

What's In The Shop Now? Vintage and New!

 Our Salon-style wall of art at the entrance to the gallery.

 

Beautiful "Buddha" created in Thailand from a single tree trunk,
hand painted/gold leaf.

A little wooden angel with blue eyes.

 23f French Cafe Wine Glasses

 

 6 French Cafe Wine Glasses in Zinc Caddy pairs well with our Calaisio Collection.

Set of 2 Iron Nesting Basket, perfect for wood, magazines, umbrellas...etc... 

Our "Italian Fleur de Lis Ceramic Collection" is perhaps our most beloved item in the shop.

Iron Greek Key Lamp, created in USA using vintage gate elements. Each lamp a unique statement.

2f 50 Bistro Plates, pair nicely with 23f Wine Glasses.

La Vie Parisienne vintage-style jewelry, just one of several jewelry collections on display.

 "Baggallini" totes and cross-body purses displayed in huge chicken wire cabinet.

New designs! "MyWalit Shopper" with teal/red/mango stitching.

Close up of our scarf and shawl collection, France, Italy, India.

Watch for my next post on our new French Purse and bag line. It's making it's debut in the USA and we have a wonderful selection....coming soon!

Creating a Joyful Tablescape

I love a beautiful table. Creating a fresh spring tablescape in the shop was a delight this season with our gorgeous, handmade "Fleur de Lis" Italian Ceramic Dinnerware, Calaisio Placemats, La Rochere "Beeware" Glasses, Burnished Vine Flatware, and my favorite Le Jacquard Francais "Jardin Exotique" tablecloth with "Tivoli" Mocha Linen Napkins.

Everything seen here can be purchased online and in our shop R.H. Ballard, in Little Washington, VA.  Call our shop with any questions regarding our products or for assistance with designing your own unique tablescape for spring. We are open every day, 10am - 6pm, except major holidays, 1-866-503-3349, www.rhballard.com.

Italian Ceramic Footed Compote

Rectangle Casserole Dish, oven safe

Shown here: "Beeware" Wine Glasses, "Coupelle" Bowl, Tivoli Mocha 100% Linen Napkins, Fleur de Lis Italian Ceramic Dinnerware, Calaisio Placemats, Burnished Vine Flatware, Le Jacquard Francais Jardin Exotique Tablecloth in Moss.