Decorated Ceramic Box from Signa

Details

Description

Classical ceramic box, decorated in bas-relief. Di signa manufactory. Italy, early 20th century

origin: italy

period: early 20th century

brand: … Read more Classical ceramic box, decorated in bas-relief. Di signa manufactory. Italy, early 20th century

origin: italy

period: early 20th century

brand: di signa manufactory. The artistic ceramics factory "manifattura di signa" was founded in signa, in the province of florence, in 1895 by camillo bondi, on the premises of the "fornaci di signa" factory owned by his brother angelo. In 1900, at the paris expo, the factory exhibited numerous sculptural terracottas, suitable for exterior decoration, featuring a special patina that enhanced their appearance and improved weather resistance. In 1901, the factory exhibited at the genoa exposition and in the following years participated in numerous exhibitions abroad. Production, focused primarily on faithful reproductions of classical and renaissance models, also included art deco majolica during the 1920s. In 1904, the firm's artistic direction was entrusted to oreste calzolari. In 1911, massimo bondi, adolfo lattes, and marco and giorgio olivetti joined the company, and the firm was transformed into a società anonima cooperativa (joint stock company), a legal form it operated under until 1940. In the early 1920s, the factory expanded its traditional production to include artistic terracotta. By the mid-1920s, the factory employed over 150 workers and artists and was equipped with modern electrical equipment. Its collaborators included renato bertelli, bruno catarzi, giovanni prini, giuseppe santelli, ettore ferrari, giulio cantalamessa, adolf von hildebrand, leopold anzengruber, and raffaello romanelli. In 1933, it exhibited some elegant sculptures by italo griselli and large twentieth-century-style garden vases at the milan triennale, achieving considerable success. During the same period, the young ceramist g. Battista casanova from faenza collaborated with the factory. In 1937, the company exhibited at the milan triennale, along with several sculptures by italo griselli, several large vases in the novecento style. In the years immediately preceding the second world war, the company was owned by partners fantacci and montecchi, and after the war, ownership passed into the hands of osvaldo coisson, who, with the help of countess pallavicini, was able to continue production, now reconverted to tableware and cookware, until 1952. During the postwar years and this reconversion of production, we recall the collaboration of technicians from richard-ginori: vecchioni, giorgetti, and pavesi, as well as that of the very young apprentice model maker and trainer pietro lazzeri. Source

materials: terracotta

dimensions
h 7 x 9.5 x 9.5 cm

condition: the piece is in very good condition, as can be seen from the attached photos. No cracks or restorations. Evaluate through photos. See less