DESCRIPTION:
The Contrade hand-painted dinner plates from Siena are now available in a set of 17 District designs. The plates, all brightly painted in joyful colors and designs, bring joy to any occasion.These plates of the Contrade are rich with history. During the Renaissance, Siena was partitioned into districts or neighborhoods called Contrade to supply troops to the military.Typically, there were trademen within the neighborhoods and represented by a symbol or animal.These are the designs on the Contrade Dinnerware.Today, the people of Siena are as passionate as it ever for their Contrade.Each district competes in the Piazza del Campo rides for the glory of winninga biannual horse race called the Palio di Siena, which dates back to 1656. Contrade of Siena designs: Eagle | Notaries, Silkworm | Silk Trade, Snail | Terracotta Makers, Owl | Shoemakers, Dragon | Bankers, Giraffe | Painters, Porcupine | Blacksmiths, Unicorn | Goldsmiths, She-Wolf | Bakers, Seashell | Potters, Goose | Dye Makers, Dolphin | Carpenters, Panthers | Grocers, Chemists and Steamers, Turtle | Sculptors, Ram | Tailors, Elephant | Wool Combers, as well as, Rhinoceros | Archers & Weavers.

ARTISAN STORY:
In 1986, Walter Staccioli began producing Italian ceramic pieces incorporating the Contrade patterns of Siena. Today, based upon each Contrada’s individual flag that festoons rider and horse in events surrounding the Palio di Siena, Sonia Staccioli and her sister Jada carry on the traditions. These works of art can only be found exclusively at Biordi and the Staccioli workshop at the Piazza del Campo in Siena.