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Ewer

Porcelain pitcher with coral handle, encrusted shells, gold interior.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

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  • Porcelain pitcher with coral handle, encrusted shells, gold interior.

Date:

c. 1745

Artist:

Capodimonte Porcelain Manufactory
Italian, founded 1743
Modeled by Giuseppe Gricci
Italian, c. 1700-1770
Naples, Italy

About this artwork

Made during the first years of the royal porcelain factory in Capodimonte, this rare set is one of the great masterpieces of European porcelain. With its malleability and whiteness, porcelain was especially suited to the Rococo emphasis on asymmetry, natural motifs, and a palette that was lucid and light. These soft-paste porcelain surfaces, probably designed by Capodimonte’s master modeler, Giuseppe Gricci, conjure up the textures and luminescence of sea-washed shells and natural mother-of-pearl. The allusion to the marine world—so appropriate to these water-bearing vessels—is furthered by the use of shell-like forms for both the shape and decoration of the ewer and basin. The surfaces of the vessels are also encrusted with marine elements, and a trompe l’oeil coral branch cleverly serves as the ewer’s handle. Swirling lines and irregular surfaces contribute to the ewer’s sense of lightness and complete the allusion to the sea.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Applied Arts of Europe

Artist

Real Fabbrica della porcellana di Capodimonte

Title

Ewer

Place

Capodimonte (Object made in)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

1740–1750

Medium

Soft-paste porcelain, polychrome enamels and gilding

Dimensions

H.: 30.5 cm (12 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Norman Chatain in memory of Professor Alfred Chatain

Reference Number

1957.490a

IIIF Manifest  The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.

https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/6596/manifest.json

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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