Ancient Italian Renaissance Maiolica Crespina, Faenza, 1580 Circa

Centerpiece light blue maiolica shell Ferniani factory, early period: 1693-1776 Faenza, 1700 circa 5.5 in x 14.72 in x 13.77 in (14 cm x 37.4 cm X cm 35) lb 4.40 (kg 2) State of con...

Centerpiece white maiolica shell Ferniani factory, early period: 1693-1776 Faenza, circa 1700 Measures: 5.6 in x 14.72 in x 13.46 in (14.3 cm x 37.4...

Maiolica tureen “allo struzzo” (ostrich decoration) Milan, Felice Clerici or Pasquale Rubati factory, circa 1750-1780 Measures: 9.25 in x 12.79 in x 10.23 in (cm 23.5 x cm 32.5 x cm 26) lb 4.78 (kg 2.17) State of conservation, a felûre consolidated inside with slight edge chipping restored. In Milan in the 18th century two Majolica warehouses were opened, the first, by Felice Clerici, in 1745, the second in 1756 by Pasquale Rubati. Traditionally this type of decoration has been attributed to the Pasquale Rubati factory. In reality the motif “allo struzzo”, one of the clearest examples of how the taste for chinoiserie met with considerable success during the 18th century, had been produced, in specimens of greater or lesser quality, by both Milanese manufactories. This Maiolica tureen has a swollen and ribbed oval bowl, rests on an extroflexed foot and shows stirrup handles. The tri-color ornament, in the typical tones of Japanese "Imari" decorations, shows an idealized oriental landscape that develops around a perforated rock and has a willow tree with long lance-shaped leaves framing the long-legged bird figure. The ornamentation is enhanced by decorative elements such as butterflies, small florets and a vase with a thin flowery stem. The lid is ribbed with a pear-shaped knob on top. The decoration was called in the Milanese manufactories "allo struzzo" (ostrich decoration) and this refers to the oriental figure Xian He or the crane, symbol of longevity, here losing its symbolic value. It is hypothesized that among some 16th century engravings...

Two maiolica dishes, "Famille Rose" decoration Felice Clerici Factory Milan, 1770-1780 9.13 in (23.2 cm) each in diameter lb 1.32 (kg 0.6) State of conservation: perfect, except for slight chipping at the edges The dishes are rare examples of a service produced by the factory of Felice Clerici (1710-1780) in Milan. Felice Clerici had opened his own factory in Milan in 1745, inserting himself into the new European stylistic trend which saw maiolica becoming a fine product like porcelain. The Milanese entrepreneur worked in the early period with high fire furnaces, declaring only in 1759 that he had purchased "the secrets of the paintings by force of money," by which he meant he now could obtain colors with a greater chromatic range with a low fire. The two dishes are funds with lightly blue glaze. Smooth barely detectable rim and ring foot. Along the edge there is a thin orange band with a chain of small spirals whereas along the brim there is a typical oriental decoration with peonies and chrysanthemums and minor florets. The flounce hosts a motif "in reserves" centered inside alternating flower and trellis motifs on pink and green backgrounds. In the center an oriental floral ornament is developed around a sturdy branch. On the back the "fraction" brand by Felice Clerici in black. Raffella Ausenda, while cataloging a maiolica in the same model as ours, conserved in the collections of the Museo di Arti Applicate del Castello in Milan (to which we refer for comparison), highlights that the ornamentation is directly inspired by Chinese porcelain from the Kang'hsi period known as "Famille Rose". The Clerici manufacture had in fact such a technical command of colors that it could perfectly imitate the oriental models even thanks to the aid of painters such as Giuseppe Sormani and Giacomo Facchetti who “painted with enamel in gold and silver colors. They imitate and accompany porcelain". The recent publication, edited by the same scholar (R. Ausenda in J.V.G. Mallet and E.P. Sani, a cura di, Maiolica in Italy and Beyond. pp. 124-140), underlines how the rebirth of maiolica in northern Italy also sprang from the experiences of the Milanese factory of Pasquale Rubati. This factory, established in 1756, obtained very high quality products, even considered among the best of the time. In the study she remarks how the pieces produced in the factory so closely matched Chinese...

Maiolica tureen Pasquale Rubati Manufacture Milan, circa 1770 - 1780 Maiolica polychrome decorated “a piccolo fuoco” (third fire). It measures 6.69 in x 11,02 x 8.26 (17 x 28 x ...

Maiolica tureen Antonio Ferretti Manufacture Lodi, circa 1770-1780 Maiolica polychrome decorated “a piccolo fuoco” (third fire). It measures 9.05 x 12.59 x 9.05 in (23 x 32 x 23 cm) ...

Italian Maiolica Crespina a Compendiario style, Central Italy, Late 17th century This Crispina has a convex shape on the front and a concave shape on the back, resting on a small ...

A vintage hand-painted ceramic strawberry motif serving platter or relish dish. This serving dish features four wells that will accommodate dips, relishes ...

Aqua Majolica asparagus saucer from Luneville, circa 1880.

Green Majolica Fish Saucer Sarreguemines, circa 1930.

A lovely antique English Staffordshire Mason's ironstone toast rack, circa 1920. Maker's mark on reverse. This fine toast rack has a beautiful floral design and would be wonderful fo...

French faience large oval fish platter signed Henriot Quimper, circa 1940. Measures: 21" L on 9.3", 9" by 8.5".