Antique Italian Anthropomorphic Terracotta Babbaluti Jugs from Seminara, 1800, Set of 3

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Three Anthropomorphic Jugs with Babbaluti in Seminara Terracotta, 1800, a set of three bottles, unique and distinctive wine vessels with … Read more Three Anthropomorphic Jugs with Babbaluti in Seminara Terracotta, 1800, a set of three bottles, unique and distinctive wine vessels with caricatured figures in polychrome ceramic glazed with the typical brown-green dripping colors of Calabrian craftsmanship. Two depict stylized male figures, wearing top hats and featuring grotesque, caricature-like faces with pronounced features, and a handle at the back. The predominant colors of these works are yellow ochre and green, and they measure 38 and 42 cm x 19 cm in diameter, respectively. The stylized female figure carries an amphora on her head, a hole on her shoulders, and a dove in her hand. It is glazed in yellow, brown, and green tones and measures 51 cm tall x 15 cm in diameter.

These figures, part of the artisanal ceramic tradition of Seminara (Reggio Calabria), represent playful and creative expressions of Southern Italian folk art. Babbaluti are anthropomorphic flasks or bottles, whose bizarre shapes have a profound popular significance. They were used to ward off evil influences or to mock soldiers during the Bourbon domination of Calabria, a period characterized by deep discontent that had led local artisans to caricature feudal lords, local lords, or characters narrated by storytellers.

The three earthenware figures date back to the late 1800s and are in good condition.

Period: 1800

Height: 51, 42, 38 cm
Diameter: 19, 15 cm This piece has an attribution mark,
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