By Manuel Mafra 1
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An extremely scarce glazed earthenware desk weight or paperweight of a Stag Beetle, from the workshop of Manuel Mafra, Caldas da Rainha, Portugal, circa. 1870-80.
In the Palissy style, the life cast beetle is molded in a naturalistic manner, and glazed in tones of brown. The insect sits on an oval base of green extruded clay creating a moss effect, he holds something yellow in his front pincers. The base has a blue scalloped rim.
The clear glazed underside is indented.
Manuel Cipriano Gomes (1831-1905) was born near Mafra. In 1850, he moved to Caldas da Rainha, a spa town in central west Portugal known for ceramic making. He adopted the name Mafra and set up his workshop in 1853, having purchased the existing workshop of Maria dos Cacos, for whom he had at first worked. In 1870, he gained royal patronage. The artisanal workshop specialized in zoomorphic vessels...
Category
1870s International Style Antique Manuel Mafra Furniture