Mid-20th Century Italian Renaissance Revival Majolica High-Relief Ceramic Box

Details

Description

A mid-twentieth-century Italian Renaissance Revival lidded ceramic casket or trinket box, dating to circa 1940s–1960s and marked with an incised … Read more A mid-twentieth-century Italian Renaissance Revival lidded ceramic casket or trinket box, dating to circa 1940s–1960s and marked with an incised “Made in Italy” inscription to the underside. The rectangular fitted-lid form is constructed in glazed earthenware or faience and decorated with extensive moulded high-relief ornament beneath glossy polychrome glazes.

The lid is centred by a circular figural medallion surrounded by raised putti, cherubs, mythological figures, grotesque ornament and a deep green foliate or architectural border. Additional narrative figural scenes continue around the sides, creating a densely worked decorative surface characteristic of Italian Renaissance Revival production.

The colour palette combines ochre yellow, deep green, turquoise, brown, blue, pink and cream. The cream-glazed interior contrasts with the elaborate exterior, while the glossy surface incorporates intentionally antiqued and distressed effects designed to suggest the appearance of earlier Italian decorative ceramics.

The box has a substantial moulded body for its compact 5.5-inch length, with the value concentrated in its high-relief decoration, strong polychrome finish, Renaissance-derived imagery and clearly identified Italian manufacture.

Measurements: 2.5 in H × 3.5 in W × 5.5 in L

Weight: 1.2 lb

Style: Italian, Renaissance Revival, Neo-Renaissance, Traditional

Origin: Italy

Age: Circa 1940s–1960s See less