Capodimonte, 19th Century Italian Pair of Majolica Griffons
View Similar Items
Capodimonte, 19th Century Italian Pair of Majolica Griffons
About the Item
- Creator:Capodimonte (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 13 in (33.02 cm)Diameter: 5 in (12.7 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:19th Century
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor structural damages. Minor fading.
- Seller Location:North Miami, FL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU6132227102592
Capodimonte
If success is measured by lasting name recognition, Capodimonte porcelain would seem to be in the same league as such makers as Meissen, Sèvres and Wedgwood. Early examples of the Italian manufacturer’s celebrated porcelain vases, figurines and sculptures can be hard to come by, but the best later pieces possess the same over-the-top charm.
The Real Fabbrica (“royal factory”) di Capodimonte hasn’t actually produced porcelain since the early 19th century, when Charles’s son Ferdinand sold it. Although secondary manufacturers have built upon the aesthetic and kept the name alive, some connoisseurs of the royal product feel these pieces should be labeled “in the style of” Capodimonte.
The timeline of royal Capodimonte porcelain is decidedly brief. From beginning to end, its manufacture lasted approximately 75 years. King Charles VII of Naples, who founded the manufactory in 1743, began experimenting with porcelain around 1738, the year he married Maria Amalia of Saxony. No coincidence there. His new bride was the granddaughter of Augustus the Strong, Elector of Saxony and founder of Meissen, the first European hard-paste porcelain manufactory. Her dowry included 17 Meissen table services.
Struck by porcelain fever, Charles built a dedicated facility on top of a hill (capo di monte) overlooking Naples. He financed expeditions to search for the right clay. He hired chemists and artisans to experiment. His earliest successes were small white snuffboxes and vases, although efforts soon progressed to full sets of tableware, decorative objects and stylized figurines of peasants and theatrical personalities.
In 1759, Charles succeeded to the throne of Spain. He moved the manufactory with him — including 40 workers and 4 tons of clay — and continued operations in Madrid. Twelve years later, his son Ferdinand IV, who inherited the throne of Naples, built a new factory there that became known for distinctly rococo designs.
The Napoleonic wars interrupted production, and around 1807, oversight of the royal factories was transferred to a franchisee named Giovanni Poulard-Prad.
Beginning in the mid-18th century, porcelain made by Charles’s factory was stamped with a fleur-de-lis, usually in underglaze blue. Pieces from Ferdinand’s were stamped with a Neapolitan N topped by a crown. When secondary manufacturers began production, they retained this mark, in multiple variations. The value of these later 19th- and 20th-century pieces is determined by the quality, not the Capodimonte porcelain marks.
Find antique and vintage Capodimonte porcelain on 1stDibs.
- Tiffany and Co Sterling Silver Chafing Dish with Warmer, 19th CenturyBy Tiffany & Co.Located in North Miami, FLThis exquisite Tiffany and Company sterling silver chafing dish, from New York, represents a timeless piece of culinary history. It showca...Category
Antique Late 19th Century American Sterling Silver
MaterialsSterling Silver
$12,713 Sale Price / set24% Off - Porsche Barrel '2019' by Marc BoffinLocated in North Miami, FL"Porsche Barrel (2019)" by Marc Boffin, bearing the distinction of being the 33rd within a limited edition of 100, stands as a captivating testament to the...Category
2010s French Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsMetal
$7,463 Sale Price24% Off - Hermès Barrel '2019' by Marc BoffinLocated in North Miami, FL"Hermès Barrel (2019)" by Marc Boffin, numbered 33 within a limited edition of 100, is a captivating masterpiece that artfully combines luxury and artist...Category
2010s French Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsMetal
$7,463 Sale Price24% Off - Chanel Barrel '2019' by Marc BoffinLocated in North Miami, FL"Chanel Barrel (2019)" by Marc Boffin, numbered 33 of a limited edition of 100, is a striking testament to the fusion of art and fashion. This unique piece...Category
2010s French Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsMetal
$7,463 Sale Price24% Off - Christian Louboutin Barrel '2019' by Marc BoffinLocated in North Miami, FL"Christian Louboutin Barrel (2019)" by Marc Boffin, bearing the prestigious number 33 within a limited edition of 100, is a striking fusion of iconic fashi...Category
2010s French Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsMetal
$7,463 Sale Price24% Off - Bugatti Barrel '2019' by Marc BoffinLocated in North Miami, FL"Bugatti Barrel (2019)" by Marc Boffin, marking its place as the 33rd piece within a limited edition of 100, represents a captivating synthesis of automoti...Category
2010s French Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsMetal
$7,463 Sale Price24% Off
- 19th Century Italian Antique Porcelain Sculpture by CapodimonteBy CapodimonteLocated in Casale Monferrato, ITBeautiful pair of statues in refined Capodimonte porcelain. Two young girls dancing. Characterized by elegant eighteenth-century dresses with full lace skirts completely made in porc...Category
Antique 1880s Italian Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- 19th Century Italian Antique Porcelain Sculpture by CapodimonteBy CapodimonteLocated in Casale Monferrato, ITBeautiful sculptural group in refined Capodimonte porcelain. A young mother walks with her little girls accompanied by a tender fawn. Please note the sweetness expressed by this rare...Category
Antique 1880s Italian Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain
- Italian 19th Century Capodimonte Group of a Satyr, Bacchante and PuttoBy CapodimonteLocated in Firenze, ITSHIPPING POLICY: No additional costs will be added to this order. Shipping costs will be totally covered by the seller (customs duties included). After Clodion 19th century porcela...Category
Antique 1890s Italian Neoclassical Revival Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsPorcelain
- 19th Century Capodimonte Petit Putti, Set of FourBy CapodimonteLocated in Pasadena, CAThis is a charming set of 4 charming table decorations of "Frolicking Putti". These four little guys are shown in various playful poses. The figurines are all in good condition. One ...Category
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Baroque Revival Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsPorcelain
- Italian 19th Century Capodimonte Porcelain Full-Relief Gallant SceneBy CapodimonteLocated in Firenze, ITSHIPPING POLICY: No additional costs will be added to this order. Shipping costs will be totally covered by the seller (customs duties included). A monumental Italian Capodimonte c...Category
Antique 1890s Italian Neoclassical Revival Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsPorcelain
- Fine 19th Century Porcelain Capodimonte Group of Cherubs and a GoatBy CapodimonteLocated in Dallas, TXThis bright Capodimonte porcelain group of four putti and a goat symbolizes abundance and the spirit of life. Capodimonte was originally an 18th century Italian porcelain...Category
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Classical Greek Porcelain
MaterialsPorcelain