20th Century Cubist Anthropomorphic Vase attributed to Guido Gambone for Cas Solimene Vietri, 1940s

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Description

Measurements:
height: 20.2 cm; width: 15.5 cm; depth: 10.8 cm; weight: 0.890 kg

item :
a highly prized vase in … Read more Measurements:
height: 20.2 cm; width: 15.5 cm; depth: 10.8 cm; weight: 0.890 kg

item :
a highly prized vase in the shape of an anthropomorphic jug, made of glazed and vitrified majolica, entirely modeled and decorated by hand, a wonderful expression of the extraordinary avant-garde period that characterized campanian ceramics in the mid-20th century. Measuring 20.2 cm high, 15.5 cm wide, and 10.8 cm deep, the work masterfully blends the functional utility of a spouted jug with the pure plastic and pictorial research of modern sculpture. Beneath the crisp white glazed base, the original trademark, hand-drawn in black under the glaze, "c.a.s. / vietri / italy" stands out. Although the piece bears the mark of the renowned solimene factory, the work is formally attributable to the genius of salerno-born master guido gambone due to a dense series of unmistakable stylistic and executive features. The very morphology of the carafe—cylindrical, asymmetrical, and animated by an organic, almost archaic plasticity—reflects the artist's famous "biscuits." the key element lies in the decoration: a human face deconstructed according to the canons of cubist and picasso deconstruction, a subject that became gambone's true expressive manifesto in the postwar period. The graphic details are reminiscent of his more refined work: the asymmetrical eyes inscribed in contrasting geometric patterns, the thick yellow ochre outline of the nose paired with highly stylized purple lips, and, above all, the use of textured glaze. The "flammé" dripping and brown sponging of the upper part mimics flowing hair, flowing down the elegant, vertically contoured handle, confirming an impeccable intellectual and studio craftsmanship. Finally, the surface finish is distinguished by a smooth, glazed enamel of exceptional brilliance, which rather than canceling out, enhances the extraordinary materiality of the piece. This particular technique, known as "heavy thickness glaze," is one of the most refined traits of guido gambone's production between the late 1940s and 1950s; the master often layered thick layers of liquid glaze to allow the colored pigments (such as the blues and browns of the hair) to blend and float under the vitrification during firing, creating a watercolor effect of great visual depth, perfectly in keeping with the picasso style. For all these reasons, we believe the jug is attributable to this celebrated italian artist.

useful information for evaluating this item:
collecting ceramics from the postwar campania region has been experiencing a strong international revival for years, with a particular emphasis on anthropomorphic or primitivist works. As a historic piece from the solimene factory, executed in the gambone style, the current market value of this particular jug ​​sits firmly in the €300–€400 range, an estimate amply justified by the excellent state of preservation of the piece, which is intact and unrestored. However, it is essential to emphasize the enormous economic potential inherent in this lot: if the work were listed in a general catalog or presented on the elite international market with an exclusive, autographed attribution to the master guido gambone, its value would increase exponentially. The anthropomorphic jugs and entirely figurative sculptural vases by the master gambone are highly sought-after pieces by major european and north american collectors. Similar lots in style, cubist subject matter, and overall dimensions command excellent prices on luxury design portals and at international auctions of 20th-century decorative art, selling for very high prices ranging from €1,500 to easily exceeding €3,500 for the most famous pieces. The presence of a glossy, compact glaze suggests the piece's dating to the master's most refined atelier production, spanning his vietri and early florentine periods. On the antiques market, gambone pieces featuring this specific vitrified finish combined with the cubist anthropomorphic subject matter are considered extremely rare and of exquisite craftsmanship, further enhancing their appeal and desirability for high-profile museum and private collections.

information on the artist and/or manufacturer:
c.a.s. (ceramica artistica solimene) represents a cornerstone of italian and international applied arts, renowned since the postwar period for having opened its vietri sul mare workshops to collaborations with the greatest european avant-garde masters. Among these, guido gambone (montella 1909 – florence 1969) stands out, universally recognized as one of the greatest innovators of 20th-century ceramics. Trained in vietri at the i.c.s. Factory and subsequently working at the c.a.s. Factory, gambone successfully overturned the rigid canons of traditional majolica through a revolutionary fusion of the archaic-popular tradition of campania and the ferment of the historic french avant-garde. His artistic research focused on the manipulation of glazes, enriched with sand, dense vitrifying agents, and acids to achieve rough surfaces with an almost rupestrian feel, and on the geometric deconstruction of the human and animal figure. His cubist sculptures and anthropomorphic vases, presented with enormous success at the venice biennale and the milan triennale, redefined the status of ceramics from applied art to major art, making his works today irreplaceable historical pieces, held in the most prestigious decorative arts museums in the world. This piece has an attribution mark,
i am sure that it is completely authentic and take full responsibility for any authenticity
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