Art Deco Gold Luster Ceramic Vase by Riccardo Gatti, Italy, 1930s

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Item description:
wonderful bowl-shaped vase with a small funnel-shaped mouth, made of vitrified majolica ceramic, entirely hand-modeled on a potter's … Read more Item description:
wonderful bowl-shaped vase with a small funnel-shaped mouth, made of vitrified majolica ceramic, entirely hand-modeled on a potter's wheel with floral decoration finished with a golden luster, made by riccardo gatti's workshop, signed under the base, dating back to the first half of the 20th century. Extremely compact majolica glaze, very hard, slightly porous with a high-quality satin finish. Decorated with an airbrush with gold lustre finishes, creating a striking chromatic effect. Excellent patina, especially under the base.

useful information for evaluating the item:
a quick search on the web shows that riccardo gatti's ceramic vases are offered for sale from a minimum of €300-400 to over €2,000 depending on size and workmanship, glazing, lustre, gilding, etc. Among other things, this artist also boasts many impressive auction results, with sculptures selling for between €1,000-1,200 and over €3,000.

information about the artist and/or manufacturer:
riccardo gatti, born in 1886, originally from florence but adopted by faenza, began his career as a ceramist alongside ercole drei, giovanni guerrini, francesco nonni, sculptor giuseppe ugonia, and other young talents in domenico baccarini's circle. He attended the school of arts and crafts in the romagna city as a pupil of virginio minardi, at whose ceramics factory, "minardi ceramiche," he began working, producing art deco-style pieces. Between 1909 and 1911, he studied at the academy of fine arts in florence, and in 1913, he moved to rome. In 1919, he returned to faenza and worked at the farina factory. In 1924, he moved to faventia ars, owned by francesco castellini and luigi masini, who had taken over minardi, and in 1927, he opened a workshop, bottega faentina, in partnership with luigi montabilini, at via bologna piccola 2 in faenza. In 1928, he was one of the first, at the suggestion of the writer giuseppe fabbri, a great promoter of futurist thought, to produce ceramics whose decorations were taken from the cartoons of giacomo balla, mario guido dal monte, and benedetta cappa marinetti. He exhibited some of his works at the milan exhibition "trentatre futuristi" (thirty-three futurists) in september 1928 and received praise from tullio d'albisola. In october of the same year, other works were presented at the "mostra futurista" (futurist exhibition) held in the halls of the "g. Sarti" music society in faenza, inaugurated by filippo tommaso marinetti. In 1930, luigi montalbini left the factory, which remained the property of riccardo gatti. During the 1930s, his production consisted mainly of large vases and large terracotta figures with metallic lustres. His works won numerous gold medals: in 1932 at the bologna exhibition and in 1933 at the regional craft exhibition in parma. In 1933, with the collaboration of giovanni morelli for the design and domenico pini for the construction, the factory acquired an electric kiln. Around 1935, he created several futurist art ceramics designed by giacomo balla and benedetta marinetti. He exhibited some of his works at the vii mostra dell'artigianato (7th craft exhibition) in florence in 1937 and at the international craft exhibition in berlin in 1938. After the war, marcello morandini, ico parisi, oreste quattrini, alberto burri, and sebastian matta collaborated with the "bottega gatti." in 1950, he was invited to exhibit some ceramics at the faenza prize, outside of the competition.
his ceramics, some of which are now on display at the faenza ceramics museum, are generally marked with a graphic symbol depicting a stylized cat and the inscription r. Gatti faenza. Riccardo gatti, still active in his workshop at the age of 86, died suddenly in venice in 1972. In faenza, in the old factory now run by his grandson dante servadei, the "museo della bottega ceramica gatti" (gatti ceramics workshop museum) has been set up.


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