Ceramic Plates from F.A.C.I, Italy, 1930s, Set of 2

Details

Description

Item description:
a rare pair of glazed and vitrified ceramic plates, entirely handmade, with a white base and a yellow … Read more Item description:
a rare pair of glazed and vitrified ceramic plates, entirely handmade, with a white base and a yellow circular band, while the rim is decorated with cherubs in relief interspersed with phytomorphic decoration (i.e., leaves and flowers), also in relief. Each cherub is entirely handmade, and in fact they are slightly different from each other. Both plates are signed on the back by the manufacturer with the initials "f. C. Di g.", which stands for "fabrica ceramiche di guerrieri", followed by the place of production "c. C.", which stands for "civita castellana," one of the very first marks of "faci," one of the most important factories of the roman kilns, with which important italian artists such as colonnelli, rossi, and carotti collaborated. The pair can be dated to the early decades of the 1900s, and the evident patina covering the two plates, especially on the back, is perfectly in line with our dating. Ceramics from this manufacturer, especially the older ones, are particularly rare because the factory suffered heavy bombing during world war ii, which almost completely destroyed the kiln and much of its artistic production.

information about the artist and/or manufacturer:
the artistic ceramics manufacturer "f.a.c.i." (fabbrica artistica ceramiche italiane) was founded in civita castellana (vt) by carlo guerrieri in 1926 in collaboration with adolfo brunelli. The following year, with the entry of the "volpato" company, the manufacturer became a joint-stock company and its headquarters were moved to via ferretti. In the same year, the company presented its products at the milan trade fair. Luigi visani collaborated with the manufacturer during this early period. In 1929, "f.a.c.i." was once again present at the milan trade fair and the following year it participated in the leipzig exhibition. The factory's work was well received at a number of craft exhibitions in italy and abroad, winning two gold medals at the fiera del levante in bari in 1933 and at the tripoli exhibition in 1936. Between the late 1920s and early 1930s, the factory collaborated with sculptor giulio francesconi and emilian painter and decorator sante ciani, director of the "regia scuola d'arte per la ceramica di civita castellana" (royal school of ceramic art in civita castellana), and painter guerrino rossi, a great exponent of airbrush painting. In 1936, the "f.a.c.i.", together with adolfo brunelli, took over the "falisca ars" factory in civita castellana, formerly owned by agostino colonnelli. The ceramics produced by the company, generally shaped on the potter's wheel by local artisans, are usually decorated with an airbrush, with the aid of stencils, by decorators, many of whom are students or teachers at the local art institute. Among these we can mention cosimo (casimiro) ettorre, former director of the institute and author of the 1936 book "come si dipinge sulla ceramica" (how to paint on ceramics), and virgilio carotti, whose 20th-century style is very reminiscent of the contemporary porcelain works of "richard-ginori." in the post-world war ii years, the factory decorated its products with airbrush, fabric, and metallic lustre. In 1957, guerrieri left the factory, which was located in via andosilla in civita castellana at the time, leaving it in the hands of adolfo brunelli who, assisted by his son antonio, kept it running until 1967. In the 1930s, a series of futuristic vases decorated with airbrushes, designed by carlo guerrieri, were added to the factory's production of modern and traditional earthenware objects for everyday use and decoration.


this piece has an attribution mark,
i am sure that it is completely authentic and take full responsibility for any authenticity
issues arising from misattribution See less