About Vario

After more than a decade of importing and selling fine ceramic dinnerware and accessories from Italy, Jan and Bill van Straaten and their friend and colleague Elaine Carl still marvel at the artisanship of the classically trained Italian potters who make the products offered in their Vario stores.

Bill, a dealer in fine art prints for more than thirty years, and Jan, a cabaret cum opera singer on the off days, also own Riverhouse Editions, publishers of contemporary master prints (www.RiverhouseEditions.com). Elaine is the founder and proprietor of Daily 2.3.5., New York’s tiniest emporium of worldly goods (located at 235 Elizabeth St.).

Of course, they must travel regularly to Italy to meet with their suppliers and find new items to bring back to the U.S. for their customers. This is simply a requirement of the business they accept with gusto. After all, it is helpful to absorb as much Italian culture through Italy’s gracious hospitality, irresistible food and geographical beauty in order to accurately represent their products.

This site is another way of sharing their pleasure in the products they sell.
Jan, Bill and Elaine hope you enjoy traveling through the Vario web site.

Abbia un viaggio piacevole!