Italian Creamware, in White Rope-Twist Oval Centerpiece Basket, Mid-20th Century

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Italian Creamware (In white) Rope-Twist Oval Centerpiece Basket, Mid-20th Century

A finely hand-crafted Italian oval centerpiece basket in white creamware, … Read more Italian Creamware (In white) Rope-Twist Oval Centerpiece Basket, Mid-20th Century

A finely hand-crafted Italian oval centerpiece basket in white creamware, dating to the mid-20th century or earlier. Measuring 15″ wide x 7.25″ deep x 6″ high (interior depth approximately 5″), this sculptural piece showcases the remarkable skill of Italian ceramicists who specialized in the centuries-old tradition of openwork and reticulated pottery.

The basket is formed from individually modeled strands of clay, twisted to mimic ropes or cords and interwoven in a lattice pattern. Each intersection is finished with applied roundels, securing the structure in place with decorative as well as functional intent. The interior is solid and glazed, providing stability, while the walls remain airy and delicate, emphasizing light and shadow. Despite its fragile appearance, the rope-twist construction imparts durability.

The all-white glaze—sometimes described as blanc creamware—highlights the texture of the modeling, allowing the form to serve as both decorative sculpture and functional vessel. Rope and knot motifs in decorative arts traditionally symbolize unity, continuity, and maritime heritage, and in this example, they also evoke the classical woven baskets of Italy’s agrarian past.

Originally intended as a fruit or bread centerpiece, this piece today serves equally well for floral arrangements (with a liner) or simply as a decorative object for table, console, or sideboard display.

Marked Made in Italy and numbered R 423 on the underside, this basket aligns with the postwar Italian export ceramics market of the 1950s–1970s, when artisanal pottery blended classical inspiration with modern refinement.

Comparable woven creamware examples by Italian workshops such as Bassano or Deruta are sought after by collectors; large oval forms such as this are scarce. See less