BIORDI ART IMPORTS
412 Columbus Avenue @ Vallejo
San Francisco, CA 94133
PH: (415) 392-8096
DOMAIN LINK
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Best of San Francisco Review:

For more than 50 years, Biordi Art Imports has been the premier importer of Italian Majolica pottery to San Francisco, an art form dating from the 14th Century. The North Beach store was actually built in 1922 and the building still retains the original facade. In 1946 Emilio Biordi founded the Biordi Art Imports, and Emilio, through actually semi-retired in 1946, ran the store for more than 30 years until the 1970’s, when he again attempted to retire, though he would daily come in to prepare lunch for the employees and to keep a watchful eye on his beloved business. He passed away in 1993 at the age of 89, and Gianfranco Savio, who became the owner in 1977 created a great many thoughtful improvements in importing and representation of individual artisans. Gianfranco Savio travels yearly to the studios of artists in Deruta, Faenza and Florence, buying and building the collection of unique pieces that his clientele snap up almost as soon as they arrive. Customers arrive at the Biordi door from all over the world. The seemingly small shop is actually an extensive gallery of this beautiful art form, and those who come to browse just for the art often leave as collectors. If you are looking for Italian Majolica to add to your collection, or to begin a new one, this is the shop to discover.