Deep Oval Serving Bowl with Sunflowers

We call this a sperlunga fonda — a deep oval serving bowl, shaped by hand in Vietri sul Mare. The word fonda means it has real depth to it, more like a shallow basin than a flat platter, so it's ideal for dishes with sauce, roasted vegetables, or a big salad.

The painting on this one is bold. Sunflowers with golden-yellow petals and brown centres sit alongside red poppies, all surrounded by green leaves and delicate fern-like tendrils. The border is a warm yellow, and the centre opens up into a deep cobalt blue — a colour combination you'll see a lot in Southern Italian ceramics. Every flower and leaf is painted freehand by our artisans, no transfers or stencils involved.

People love using these as centrepieces on the dining table, filled with fruit or just sitting there on their own. The depth also makes them practical for serving — think a big portion of spaghetti alle vongole or a caprese salad for the whole table. They work well hung on a wall too, if you prefer to display them.

Each piece is glazed with food-safe enamels and fired in the kiln. Because the painting is done entirely by hand, expect small variations in colour and brushwork from piece to piece.