Lecce Ceramic Papier-Mâché Figurines, 1990s, Set of 2

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Description

The art of papier-mâché in Lecce, a unique phenomenon in Puglia, dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries. with … Read more The art of papier-mâché in Lecce, a unique phenomenon in Puglia, dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries. with the development of the arts linked to the proliferation of churches and monuments, Lecce artisans discovered in the art of "plasticizing" paper the possibility of creating a myriad of sacred works, which attracted the faithful to worship when the Counter-Reformation Church was engaged in its crusade against Lutheran heresy. A statue can be said to emerge from nothing, or it can be the expression of an idea. It all begins with a bundle of curly straw, shaped with twists of string, which gives a rough shape to a core of spun iron.
The hands, feet, and head are made separately from clay. The papier-mâché artist, in addition to knowing how to work paper, must be a skilled sculptor and know how to prepare casts according to specific iconographies, which rarely undergo changes, such as those referring to saints and the Madonna. The casts are often passed down from generation to generation.
The figure is then dressed with various sheets of paper, glued layer upon layer with flour glue, to which a pinch of copper sulfate is added to repel woodworms.
The old masters added alum to the flour, which was effective against mold. The resulting adhesive was called ponnula.
Drying in the air or in the sun concludes the first phase of the process.
The preparation of the glue itself, apparently made with only water and flour, must involve some mysterious "addition," since when it boils, it releases an inexplicable smell of cedar and incense. In good condition.
Dimensions: Female statue: Height 27 cm, Depth 8 cm.
Width 9 cm, Base 9 x 8 cm.
Male statue: Height 22 cm, Depth 16 cm, Width 14 cm, Base 13.5 x 14 cm. 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