There is a particular kind of entertaining object that changes how a table feels — not because it's precious or fragile, but because it's beautiful enough to make the meal feel like an occasion and practical enough that you actually use it. Beatriz Ball designs exactly that kind of object. And the story behind the brand is as good as the pieces themselves.
The Designer Behind the Brand
Beatriz Ball's roots in design go back over 30 years, when the Cuban-born designer began working hand-in-hand with skilled metalware artisans on the outskirts of Mexico City, creating updated, innovative designs in a special lustrous alloy of many metals.
Pieces are made entirely by hand, one at a time, using the ancient art of sand casting — pouring a premium quality alloy of molten aluminum into sand molds, and then going through four levels of polishing. More than twelve different sets of hands are involved in the creation of each piece. The result is metalware with a depth of character and warmth that only a handmade object can have.
Beatriz Ball has been awarded the prestigious ARTS Award for excellence in the Tabletop category six times, and her products were chosen as one of Oprah's Favorite Things in 2017. Her handmade designs are sold in over 1,000 stores nationwide, as well as in Neiman Marcus.
Dividing her time between New Orleans and Mexico City, Ball has built a brand that is rooted in craft, designed for real life, and impossible to overlook on a table.
From Metal to Melamine: The VIDA Collection
Now a true lifestyle brand, Beatriz Ball has rendered many of her iconic designs in luxury melamine, expanding her offerings to glass, linens, and placemats.
The VIDA melamine collection is where most people fall in love with the brand. The pieces have the substance, weight, and appearance of a ceramic piece, but are made of luxury melamine for everyday enjoyment — heavy-weight, food safe, BPA and PABA free, and dishwasher safe on the top rack. They are shatter-resistant, which means you can take them outside without anxiety, stack them without worry, and let guests help themselves without holding your breath.
This is the rare category of entertaining object that is genuinely as beautiful as it is practical.
The Collections We Carry at Fina Tavola
At Fina Tavola we carry seven VIDA melamine lines, each with its own personality. Here's how to navigate them.
VIDA Alegria
The pearl-rimmed Alegria is Beatriz Ball's most joyful melamine line — generous forms, a luminous finish, and a design that works as beautifully for fruit and salads as it does for chips and dip. Perfectly suited for indoor and outdoor entertainment, Alegria is a collection as joyful as its name. Mix and match pieces for a vibrant tablescape or pair a large bowl with a small one for an effortless chip and dip set.
VIDA Havana
With a perfectly irregular shape and a brilliant white surface, the Havana collection has the luster, heft, and look of a ceramic piece. The flowing organic curves give each piece an artisanal quality — like something a ceramicist made by hand rather than a melamine manufacturer. Ideal for dinner plates, platters, and round serving pieces that anchor a table beautifully.
VIDA Nube
Nube — meaning "cloud" in Spanish — is the softest, most sculptural line in the collection. Gentle, billowing forms in white that feel organic and modern at the same time. A beautiful choice for anyone who wants the Beatriz Ball aesthetic in a quieter, more understated expression.
VIDA Bloom
Bloom brings a floral sensibility to the table — delicate petal-inspired forms that feel fresh and feminine without being precious. A natural for spring and summer entertaining, and a particularly lovely gifting choice.
VIDA Bamboo
The Bamboo collection takes its cues from natural texture — a subtly woven surface detail that gives each piece warmth and visual interest. Pairs beautifully with natural linens and wooden elements for a relaxed, organic table.
VIDA SOHO
SOHO is Beatriz Ball's most classic, versatile line — clean forms with a quietly refined edge that works with any table setting, any season, any aesthetic. The go-to choice if you want pieces that disappear into your existing table rather than competing with it.
Snakeskin Placemats
The Snakeskin placemats are the most statement-making piece in the collection — a graphic, textured surface that instantly elevates a table. Use them with the white VIDA pieces for a bold contrast, or layer them under your existing dinnerware for an instant refresh.
The Gifting Case for Beatriz Ball
Beatriz Ball is one of the easiest gifting decisions you'll make. The pieces arrive beautifully packaged, they feel genuinely luxurious to unwrap, and they're the kind of thing people use for years rather than tucking away. A large Alegria bowl, a Havana platter, or a set of Snakeskin placemats — any of these make a memorable wedding, housewarming, or birthday gift that the recipient will reach for again and again.
Shop Beatriz Ball at Fina Tavola
Browse the full Beatriz Ball collection at Fina Tavola — VIDA Alegria, Havana, Nube, Bloom, Bamboo, SOHO, and Snakeskin placemats, across bowls, platters, dinner plates, salad sets, trays, and more. Fina Tavola is an authorized US retailer of Beatriz Ball, shipping fast from our US warehouse.