Large Futuristic Modern Majolica Vase with Horses Relief by Umberto Ghersi, Albisola, Italy, 1950s

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Item description:
wonderful, large majolica vase entirely hand-modeled on a potter's wheel, glazed and vitrified, then entirely hand-decorated and further … Read more Item description:
wonderful, large majolica vase entirely hand-modeled on a potter's wheel, glazed and vitrified, then entirely hand-decorated and further embellished with bas-relief horses in full gallop that protrude slightly from the main body of the vase, made entirely by hand using gouges, spatulas, and other tools for working with ceramics. A unique, large piece made around the mid-20th century. Signed on the decoration with an incised signature and under the base by umberto ghersi, an important artist from albissola, accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. The vase is very large, measuring almost 60 centimeters in height and 31 centimeters in diameter, with a weight of about 10 kg. The relief decoration is beautiful and extremely dynamic, echoing elements of the futurist style. The aqua green and brown glaze is beautiful, rich in shades with a striking visual effect.

useful information for evaluating the item:
internet research shows that umberto ghersi's majolica pieces have achieved numerous respectable auction results. The four highest results we found range from €500 to €1,200, plus auction fees of 25-30%. Furthermore, ceramics for sale on various online platforms range from €300 for smaller vases to €1,000-€1,500 for larger sculptures and vases. Many of these works were created by the artist on the theme of horses, which he loved very much. However, it must be said that none of the majolica pieces for sale are as large and impressive as our vase, which, in our opinion, is by far the most beautiful, rare, and important of all those we have found for sale at the moment.

information about the artist and/or manufacturer:
son of ceramist angelo and descendant of a family of albisola majolica makers, umberto ghersi was born in albisola in 1913. A painter, decorator, and skilled ceramics technician, he learned the basics of the craft at his family's tableware factory and trained artistically at the "poggi" workshop and, after gaining experience as a potter and technician in the clay department of the "la casa dell'arte" factory, which began in 1926, he worked as a decorator at several other albisola manufacturers, including "fenice," "s.p.i.c.a.," and "m.g.a." in the mid-1930s, he worked in partnership with bartolomeo tortarolo, known as bianco d'albisola, at the "pozzo garitta" factory. Production was suspended due to world war ii, but in 1946, the two, together with geri, romano, bianco d'albisola, and perilli, founded the "soesco" artistic majolica factory in 1946, but in 1949 they were forced to sell the business to the milanese entrepreneur noia rodogna. Umberto ghersi continued to work for several years with the new owner at the factory, which took the name "rayon." in 1953, the ceramist ugo michielotto became the owner of "rayon" and umberto ghersi was confirmed in his position at the factory, which changed its name again to "manifattura ceramiche italia." in 1962, umberto ghersi participated in the lodi nativity scene exhibition with a nativity scene, one of his favorite subjects, and in 1964, one of his ceramics was awarded a prize at the albisola festival. In 1964, he set up his own business and founded "ghersi umberto ceramiche," first based in via respighi 2 and later in via celea 54, in albissola mare. A catalog from the "cambi" auction house in genoa presented a lot marked "ghersi ceramiche laca albisola capo" on february 22, 2012. . In the 1980s, at the invitation of bepi mazzotti and his son tullio (second of that name), he created a number of ceramics at the "fabbrica casa museo giuseppe mazzotti 1903" in albisola capo. Umberto ghersi was described by lucio fontana as "a master of rare chromatic sensitivity and my collaborator on important works."


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