Lot 129
An unusual Italian Castelli maiolica socketed saucer
Fine Furniture, Rugs, Ceramics, Silver
Auction: 8 October 2000 at 12:00 BST
Description
signed by Carmine Gentile (1678 - 1763), probably 2nd decade of the 18th century, painted on the broad rim with views of a shore with ships and figures, the outer and inner rim edged with thin bands in brown and orange, the reverse inscribed "GENTILI.P", attached torn label "T G and Co.", rim cracked in two sections and rivited (on the reverse)
17.8cm diameter, 2.3cm high
Footnote
Signed pieces by this decorator (who nevertheless worked at Castelli over a long period) are rare. A signed roundel dated 1716 in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge is almost identical to this piece in size and style of decoration. This saucer was probably also copied from a print by the engraver Gabriel Perelle (1603 - 1677). See Julia E Poole, "Italian maiolica and incised slipware in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge", 1995, Cat 480, p.448-449.
Other Castelli saucers of this shape are known, mostly attributed to C A Grue. See Lelo Moccia, "Le antiche maioliche di Castelli d'Arbruzzo", 1968, Cat 53 and Cat 54, and Celia Curnow, "Italian maiolica in the National Museums of Scotland", Cat 108, p.90. They may have been the inspiration when this shape of saucer was first introduced in porcelian in France at Sevres in 1759 and described as "soucoupes enfonces". See Savill, R, "The Wallace collection catalogue of Sevres porcelain", 1988, C441-7, p.674-675.