Andres Serrano, Stracotto alla Fiorentina - Beppe - New York City

This striking, extremely rare limited edition, signed and numbered bowl/plate was handmade in southern Italy by master artisans near Vietri sul Mare. It was designed by renowned American artist Andres Serrano. From the late 1990s through the millenium. Buon Ricordo America, Inc. commissioned famous artists, including Serrano to design plates for their flagship restaurants as special one-time only charitable fundraiser. Serrano designed the present work for the renowned NY Italian restaurant Beppe. Serrano's design depicts one of the restaurant's signature dishes, Stracotto alla Fiorentina - and done in the artist's inimitable, provocative style This plate is a real collector's item -- and difficult to find -- it was created in a limited edition of only 100 and never mass marketed. The artist's signature is fired into the plate on the recto and verso (front and back) and numbered from the limited edition of 100. Of the entire series, Serrano's work was created in the smallest number - so it's probably the most scarce of the series. Unfortunately, the project ended after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which also affected many of the company's restaurants.

These plates were made in conjunction with Buon Ricordo America, Inc., an offshoot of the Italian restaurant union, Buon Ricordo (Unione Ristoranti del Buon Ricordo). The union has a long tradition of commissioning handmade plates that represent the essence of each of their member restaurants by artisans throughout Italy. The plates capture the essence of each restaurant’s local specialty, and the decoration is embellished with references to the restaurant, its local territory and products. The rim of each plate bears the name of the restaurant and the town or village it is in.

This plate was made from local clay from a quarry in Ogliara, a few kilometres from Vietri. After biscuit firing they are coated and decorated by hand by skilled craftsmen using a carbon “dusting” technique similar to that once used for Renaissance fresco painting. Once the plates were decorated they are glazed and fired for a second time to fix their vivid colors. In the late 1990s through the early 2000s, Buon Ricordo America, Inc. collaborated with some of America's most prominent artists, like Serrano, to make a series of plates for iconic restaurants throughout the United States.

The verso (back) of the plate reads as follows:

"Limited edition designed by the artist to benefit charitable organizations dedicated to bring hope and help children in need around the world."
"The artist does not derive any income from the sale of this plate."
"Microwave, oven and dishwasher safe."
"Printed by Cromocolor"
"Made in Italy"