Handpainted Oil Cruet with Lemons

In Italian we call it oliera — a small bottle made for keeping olive oil at the table. Our artisans in Vietri sul Mare throw each one on the wheel, giving it that round-bellied shape with a narrow neck and a small handle on the side. It comes fitted with a stainless steel pourer that controls the flow nicely, so you get a clean drizzle every time.

The decoration is hand-painted on a deep teal-green background. Big yellow lemons sit among green leaves, done freehand with visible brushstrokes — no transfers, no stamps. The handle is painted in a warm terracotta orange that picks up the tones in the leaf veins. It is a classic Amalfi Coast look, the kind of thing you see in every kitchen down here.

People use these daily for extra virgin olive oil — on salads, bread, grilled fish, pasta. The ceramic keeps the oil cool and away from light, which actually helps preserve it. The pourer makes it easy to control portions. It also works well as a little decorative piece on a dinner table.

Part of our Praiano Collection. Each one is glazed with food-safe enamels and kiln-fired. Since everything is done by hand, expect small differences in the brushwork from piece to piece. That is the nature of handmade ceramics.