The origins of the Gilardini family as merchants in Italy date back to the 1700’s in the town of Ivrea, near Turin, located in the Piedmont region at the foot hills of the Alps. My husband Bill Pasko and I decided to continue the Gilardini tradition of quality and service here in America and in October 2000 opened Gilardini Ceramica Italiana in Red Bank, New Jersey, a store devoted to Italian ceramics. I was born in Ivrea Italy and moved to the United States with my family in 1967. Bill on the other hand is a second generation American whose roots lie in Calabria, Southern Italy, from where part of the Sposato family immigrated in the early 1900’s. After careers in banking we decided to share our love of Italy and Italian Maiolica by opening a shop reminiscent of the Botteghe found in small towns all over Italy. We traveled to Italy to rekindle old family relationships and establish new ones with some of the best quality producers in Montelupo Fiorentino, Tuscany, Gubbio and Deruta, Umbria. Our collection has grown to include pieces from Rimini in Emilia Romagnia, Castelli in Abruzzi and Vietri on the Amalfi Coast. We continue to travel to Italy on a regular basis to personally select every piece for the shop. We carry traditional patterns such as Raffaellesco and Ricco Deruta, but also commission special patterns and pieces made to our specifications. At the present time we carry the work of 9 producers which includes everything from whimsical fish plates from the Amalfi coast to elegant two handled Anfora from Gubbio. Our collection of over forty different Biscotti jars is possibly the largest outside of Italy. We take great pride in our reputation for quality, exceptional personal service, and attention to details. Our gift selection, bridal registry and special order capabilities have made Gilardini Ceramica Italiana a well known destination for maiolica lovers.
We hope you can visit our shop and hope you enjoy our website. Grazie Laura Gilardini