Conti Ferniani Faenza - Conti Ferniani in terraglia...

Rare Pair of Antique Earthenware Plates – Manifattura dei Conti Ferniani (Faenza) – Decor “To a Garden and Broken Column” – Second Half of the 18th Century (Settecento) Historical Importance and the Philosophy of the Eighteenth Century I present at auction a refined lot of Italian antique ceramics: a splendid pair of coordinated plates in ancient earthenware, attributed to the famous Manifattura dei Conti Ferniani of Faenza, one of the premier production centers in Europe during the eighteenth century. Dating to the second half of the 18th century, this pair embodies the bucolic, archaeological, and classical taste that dominated the salons of Italian nobility of the era. Moreover, these plates carry the fascinating philosophy of the pre-industrial manufactory: a golden age when material was precious and every piece that left the kiln, even if marked by fire, was loved, preserved, and never discarded. Both plates feature the extraordinary and highly sought-after polychrome painting motif known as “To a Garden with broken column” (or simply the “broken column”), one of the most successful and prestigious decorations of Faenza production in the eighteenth century. The Cavetto (Center): The rich composition rests on a patch of ground and shows a truncated and broken classical column set on a pedestal, accompanied by a large garden vase. From this, sinuous flowering branches and shrubs rich in detail unfold. The Tesa (Edge): The profile is elegantly sinuous and lobed (ribbed), finished all around with small floral bouquets alternated with a refined geometric lattice (or lace) motif. Technique: The vivid color palette (characterized by the typical shade range of green, dark purple red, ocher, blue, and manganese brown) testifies to the complex and skilled technique of gran-fuoco firing on earthenware, capable of preserving bright colors after more than two centuries. A note for collectors: although the decorative scheme is strictly the same, each plate is entirely hand-painted by the ceramic masters of the period, and each piece presents small, unique variations in the painting, a detail that certifies its absolute craftsmanship and the uniqueness of the single piece. Technical Sheet of the Lot. Type: Pair of antique parading/collection plates. Manufacturing: Formally attributed to the Manifattura dei Conti Ferniani (Faenza). Era: Second half of the 18th century (Settecento). Material: Ancient earthenware. Decor: “To a Garden with broken column” executed in gran fuoco. Mark: Absent (consistent with Ferniani production of the period). Diameter about: 24.5 cm each Being authentic 18th-century antique pieces in earthenware that have survived over 250 years of history, the pair is presented in good overall conservation for its era. For maximum transparency and precise collecting details, the following are noted (well-documented in photos): Physiological signs of time: As absolutely natural to find on ceramics used in this period, the plates may show some minute hairlines, small nicks along the rims and the edge, and insignificant superficial glaze loss. The fascinating firing flaw: On one of the two plates there is a mark that, to an untrained eye, could be mistaken for an old repair. In fact, it is a characteristic firing defect from the era or a material absorption mark created inside the eighteenth-century kiln. This detail does not diminish in any way the extraordinary pictorial quality, the integrity, and the perfect structural stability of the plate. On the contrary, it lends the object that old, authentic, romantic flavor, testimony to a time when nothing was wasted or destroyed and every piece maintained its usefulness and artistic value. Given the extreme fragility and rarity of the pair of plates, shipping will be arranged with maximum safety protective packaging: Each plate will be individually isolated in protective paper, bubble wrap, and other suitable materials and then placed in a rigid box. Service provided exclusively by a premier international express courier with a tracking code issued immediately after dispatch. The lot will travel with full insurance coverage for the entire winning value."

Estimation:€350

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