Art Deco Italian Pottery Madonna and Child Bust by Guido Cacciapuoti, 1920s

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A deeply stippled and folded cobalt blue veil encloses this ceramic bust, draping over the madonna's head and framing the … Read more A deeply stippled and folded cobalt blue veil encloses this ceramic bust, draping over the madonna's head and framing the sleeping infant christ nestled against her shoulder. Modelled with pronounced art deco stylisation, the madonna is portrayed with smooth porcelain-toned skin, subtle blush to the cheeks, dark hooded eyelids and softly tinted crimson lips, offering a striking contrast against the dark mottled blue glaze of the outer mantle. The surface treatment balances smooth, soft glazes on the skin with an uneven, pitted texture across the drapery that pools dark blue and black in the recesses while catching bright highlights along the ridges. The infant child is modelled in matching pale tones with delicate brown hair, resting securely within the lower swathe of fabric above an oval self-base. Standing approximately 17 cm high and around 15 cm wide, the piece has a well-balanced triangular profile. About the maker: guido cacciapuoti (1892–1953) was an italian ceramic sculptor known for his refined modelling and technical glaze experimentation. Active throughout the first half of the 20th century, he produced an acclaimed range of wildlife studies, secular figures and devotional subjects. This madonna and child, likely produced during the 1920s or 1930s, reflects the strong influence of the italian art deco movement on religious ceramics of the era. The reverse carries the artist's handwritten signature 'g. Cacciapuoti' incised directly into the lower edge of the drapery before firing, positioned beside a clear impressed rectangular factory mark reading 'made in italy'. See less