Large Vintage Centerpiece by Bruno Gambone, Italy, 1960s

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A rare and extraordinary extra large glazed ceramic centerpiece by bruno gambone, a unique hand-crafted work intended for serious collectors … Read more A rare and extraordinary extra large glazed ceramic centerpiece by bruno gambone, a unique hand-crafted work intended for serious collectors of italian studio ceramics. Monumental in scale, sculptural in presence and exceptional in execution, this piece fully expresses gambone’s mastery of form, surface and painterly ceramic glaze. With its impressive proportions, measuring approximately 60 cm including the handles and 46 cm without handles, this centerpiece has the presence of a museum object. The low, wide body is conceived almost as an open vessel or ceremonial tray, with two powerful loop handles extending from the sides. The form is generous yet perfectly balanced: broad, rounded, architectural and deeply sculptural. The exterior is finished in a warm ivory glaze, slightly irregular and softly aged in tone, giving the piece a natural, tactile character. The handles are especially beautiful: rounded, organic and almost primitive in their simplicity, they appear modeled by hand rather than mechanically shaped. Their soft curves create a striking contrast with the wide circular basin, giving the object a strong and unmistakable silhouette. The interior is breathtaking. A deep glossy night-blue/black glaze fills the basin like a dark reflective pool, creating a dramatic contrast with the pale exterior body. At the center, gambone introduces an abstract painterly composition in earthy ochre, pale grey, blue and mineral green tones. The effect is almost cosmic: a suspended landscape, a moon, a reflection, or a fragment of sky captured inside the ceramic surface. The glaze work is of extremely high quality. The black field is deep and liquid, while the central decoration appears layered and atmospheric, with soft halos, vertical blue movement and irregular hand-painted marks. Around the rim, the transition between black, ivory and warm sandy tones is beautifully alive, with subtle speckling, oxidation and natural glaze movement that reveal the artist’s hand. This is not simply a decorative centerpiece, but a true ceramic artwork. Every detail speaks of manual process: the slight irregularities of the body, the organic handles, the painterly glazing, the tonal variations and the raw energy of the material. As with the best works by bruno gambone, it carries both refinement and instinct, discipline and freedom. The underside is signed “gambone italy,” confirming its origin. The piece is preserved in very good vintage condition, with natural handmade irregularities, glaze variations and light age-related signs consistent with the nature of the work. A rare, unique and important collector’s piece by bruno gambone, ideal for a sophisticated interior, a curated collection of italian ceramics, or as a sculptural centerpiece in a gallery-like setting. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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