Early 20th Century S. Tofanari for Guido Cacciapuoti Italian Porcelain Figurine of Orangutang Ape

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A rare, large and finely detailed Italian porcelain figurine in the form of an orangutang by the foremost sculptor and … Read more A rare, large and finely detailed Italian porcelain figurine in the form of an orangutang by the foremost sculptor and animalier Sirio Tofanari for Guido Cacciapuoti and retailed by Focke & Meltzer. Signed on the side with original labels on the bottom as shown. See further information below about the artist, porcelain company and retailer.

About the artist Sirio Tofanari -
Born in Florence on April 9, 1886, Tofanari is recognized as one of the foremost sculptors of the Animalier movement in Italy. He traveled around Europe, first in Paris and then in London where he spent time observing animals at the zoo and the Natural History Museum to study their anatomy to be able to represent them in the most realistic possible way. He was trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence. He took part from 1909–34 in all editions of the Venice Biennale, while in the Rome Quadriennale, an entire pavilion was dedicated to him. In 1916 he presented the sculptures in San-Francisco - In 1923 He exhibited his works in Buenos-Aires - In 1928 He exhibited in Brussels. His works can be admired in keynote galleries both in Italy and abroad like Rome, Florence, Paris, London, Brussels, Amsterdam, Buenos Aires, Bahia Blanca, Santa Fe, Rio de Janeiro and San Paolo. In 1949, the President of the Republic issued a decree appointing him a member of the Accademia di San Luca in Rome. Tofanari died on October 12, 1969, in Milan.

About the manufacturer Cacciapuoti -
The manufacturing of artistic ceramics "Cacciapuoti" was founded in Naples by Cesare Cacciapuoti, belonging to a family of Maiolicaari from Campania.
His son Giuseppe (1828-1896) inherited the company circa 1880, when some of his works were exhibited, first in Turin and then in Milan.
In the factory also works his brother Ettore who presents some of his ceramics at the Paris Exhibition of 1889.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the manufacture, specialized in terracotta imitating bronze and copper, is managed by the sons of Giuseppe, Cesare (who opened in 1883 a factory in its own association with the manufacturer of crockery Schioppa), Ettore and Guglielmo.
Among the collaborators of this early period we remember the painter Giovan Battista Foschi.
Between the end of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, painters and modellers of the highest level collaborated with the firm, including Attilio Pratella and Filippo Cifariello.
In the early twentieth century the manufacture passed into the hands of Ettore and Guglielmo who worked to make the production more modern and competitive, starting to produce earthenware works made by casting.
In 1906 Ettore left the factory and moved to Paris where he began his career as a painter and Guglielmo took over all the shares in the factory and continued production under the name of "Stabilimento Ceramico Artistico Partenopeo".
In 1907 the sons of Guglielmo, Mario and Guido moved to Treviso where they collaborated with the "Gregory" ceramic factory and where they met Arturo Martini
In 1927 Mario and Guido, in partnership with Angelo Bignami, who deals with the commercial and administrative sectors, left Treviso and founded the "Mario Cacciapuoti & C." ceramics factory in viale Premuda 34 in Milan. Which remained active until 1930.
In 1930 Mario died prematurely and the management of the company remained in the hands of Guido, who started manufacturing on the road to success, producing a production of high quality and quantity, both models and pieces.
Among the ceramists working for the manufacture we remember: Francesco De Matteis, Giuseppe Granello, Ruffo Giuntini, Silvio Righetto, Giuseppe Renda, Achille D'Orsi and De Martino.
In these years some animalist models are supplied to the manufactory by the sculptor and ceramist Sirio Tofanari.

About the retailer Focke & Meltzer -
Headquartered in Amsterdam, the company was founded in 1823 by Sebastiaan Meltzer, Frans Focke and Anton Eberhart
Since the end of 1886, the company was allowed to use the title of Purveyor to the Royal Household.
Their customers included noble families such as Trip, Bosch, Van Eeghen, Van Limburg Stirum, Wickevoort Crommelin and Van Vollenhoven.

Age - 20th Century

Approximate Size - 6 + 7/8 inches at its highest point by 8 + 5/8 inches front to back by 6 + 1/8 inches across the elbows.

Condition - Age appropriate, we find a couple small shallow flecks on the knuckles and bottom edge of the right foot, and one tiny glaze fleck on a right hand knuckle (it still displays very nicely), see photos for complete assessment. Please ask if additional photos are necessary. See less