My friends gave me questioning looks. I knew what they were thinking inside, especially their two teenage kids:
“Really, Victoria? A porcelain museum? Are you sure it’s worth the detour? … Are you okay?…”
Without batting an eye – well, almost – I took my friends to the Museo delle Porcellane in Florence. And imagine… they all fell in love with it!
Although it is unfortunately closed for restoration at the moment, I’ll update you as soon as it reopens, because this is a fantastic exhibition. Whenever I walk through the Boboli Gardens, I climb all the way up to the top of the Casino del Cavaliere, where breathtaking views open over the untouched Tuscan countryside – and where the Porcelain Museum has welcomed visitors since 1973.
The museum houses an extraordinary ceramic collection from all over the world – primarily porcelain dining sets once used by Tuscany’s ruling dynasties: the Medici, Lorraine, and Savoy families. Among the Italian porcelains, visitors can admire the works of the Doccia manufactory, used by the Grand Dukes mainly for everyday tableware, as well as porcelain from the Royal Factory of Naples.
Among the foreign porcelains, you’ll find Viennese Austrian, Meissen German, Vincennes and Sèvres French pieces, many of which were brought to the Pitti Palace by the House of Savoy, and some given by Napoleon himself to his sister Elisa Baciocchi, Duchess of Tuscany, between 1809 and 1814. The oldest items in the collection include special Meissen pieces once owned by Gian Gastone, the last Medici Grand Duke (1671–1737).
It was here, many years ago, that I first discovered the works of the famous Richard Ginori manufactory, founded in 1735. In Italy, Richard Ginori is a household name. Of course, the finely crafted plates, cups, and serving dishes don’t fit every budget – I could only allow myself one serving platter, while another I received as a birthday gift from my son’s girlfriend. Still, it is worth admiring them up close at the porcelain boutique in Florence, at Via dei Rondinelli 17.
The manufacturer’s latest design, The Journey of Neptune, is impressive, though my personal favorite remains the Italian Gardens collection. The flagship Richard Ginori store itself is worth a visit. Located in the heart of Florence, the boutique was meticulously restored after the Gucci Group acquired the manufactory, reopening its doors in 2013. Incidentally, the famous Milanese designer and architect Gio Ponti was appointed artistic director of Ginori in 1923.
So, while the Porcelain Museum is temporarily closed, you can still visit the Ginori boutique in Florence to discover how hand-painted porcelain – when created and arranged with passion and creativity – is anything but outdated. In fact, it’s the opposite.