Colonnese. In the nineteenth century, Salvatore Colonnese, a modeller who had developed his abilities in the Giustiniani factory, founded the Neapolitan pottery. Between 1834 and 1836, when he left the company in the hands of his sons Francesco and Gaetano, production shifted away from everyday useful ware and towards artistic pieces inspired by English ware and the shapes and decorations of classical Roman pottery. The factory’s name serves as the trademark. (Terraroli, 2002)
The above decoration of this vase is taken from the 4th century B.C. Apulian original, now in the British Museum, and published in engravings of 1791 and 1795. The shape has been altered, and an extra pattern has been invented. Several Neapolitan firms made similar wares to cater for the public’s interest in classicism. The Colonnese family, Salvatore, his sons, Francesco and Gaetano, and a nephew, Alphonso, made a variety of wares, from drain pipes to hybrid porcelain. Other cultures and historical periods greatly inspired nineteenth-century European designers and craftspeople. Fueled by archaeological discoveries, the simple lines and patterns of ancient Greek and Roman pottery were admired throughout the nineteenth century. Classical myths and legends lent kudos to objects, imbuing them with the grandeur of the ancient world. (Vase | Colonnese, Francesco, n.d.)
Sources
Terraroli, V. (2002, January 2). Skira Dictionary of Modern Decorative Arts. https://doi.org/10.1604/9788884910257
Vase | Colonnese, Francesco. (n.d.). Victoria and Albert Museum. Retrieved April 8, 2023, from https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O347047/vase-colonnese-francesco/
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