Can You Identify My Mystery Italian Pottery?

[Jottagirl]

For the past few years, I've been collecting (if you consider buying on eBay "collecting" ;-) a specific style of Italian pottery. It's been listed in variously as Majolica, Deruta, or Della Robbia, etc., but it has a rougher, more handmade look and feel. Each hand painted piece is usually blue or yellow, and has a raised floral or fruit border around each.

The handpainted markings on the bottom vary, but most have the word "Italy", and some include numbered markings, such as: Italy 82/10; Italy 740/c N/ADF; Italy Cam 562; Italy #14, etc.

I've got a few things that match: a three piece (dresser?) set, with a lidded box, tumbler, and small dish. Another three piece set has a basket, with a cream and sugar.

There's a variety of other pieces, including: planters, small bowls, vases, basket, trinket box, tea cup, small pitcher, cream & sugar, etc.

I've found most of the 40 pieces by browsing for "Italy, pottery, painted" items. Prices are mostly $5-7.

The pics show some random pieces (left), and a few of the marks (right).

It doesn't really matter to me what it's worth. It's information I really want! The only info I was able to get from any of the sellers is that it belonged to their grandmother (or great-grandmother), and had been around her house for years. So, my curiosity has been piqued ever since the first tiny little bowl. ANY help or info would be greatly appreciated!

[fossilfly]

Hi Jottagirl.
Many of the numbers look to be patterns or design numbers, a lot of the pottery I import has similar markings to identify the patterns between sets.
I cant really make out the designs but you may want to visit http://www.ceramics.it/marchi_en.html to see if any of the markings match a particular manufacturer.

[Jottagirl]

Thanks, Charlie,
I actually checked ALL the links to the marking on that site, and nothing even close. The markings on my pottery don't have a uniform, logo/marking look to them. The only word on them is "Italy", and a very loose "B".

But, thanks so much for the link... stuff like that is always interesting!

[Walter]

The style is known as DELLA ROBBIA and its identifying feature is a colorful wreath or ring of flowers and fruits surrounding the object
The Florentine, Luca della Robbia (1400-1482) was not a ceramicist. He was a sculptor who worked in bronze and marble. In his later years, however, he did create a means to make clay relief figures permanent by coating them with a glaze of tin, antimony and other secret ingredients. He used his technique to create high relief plaques that were placed on the facades of churches and palaces.
Della Robbia is the one single artist responsible for revolutionizing the simple craft of making pottery and transforming it into a true art form. Early 14th century earthenware pieces, whether made in faience, engobe or majolica were created for utilitarian purposes only – cups, plates, dishes, urns, jars. All these were designed for a specific purpose. Decorating them was an afterthought and simply used as a means to make these wares more saleable to prospective customers. Della Robbia blurred the line that defined artist and craftsman and raised majolica manufacturing to high art in Italy. Suddenly huge platters with immensely powerful images of biblical and historical figures locked in monumental struggles were hung on walls for decorative reasons only. Beautifully decorated vases, a relatively new concept in the 15th century, were created to bring flowers and the glory of nature into the home.
For the first time in European ceramics history, painters and sculptures found employment in the ceramics factories of Faenza. These artists introduced the same techniques they used in creating their frescos and applied them to the plates, urns and vases they discovered in the factories and studios. They brought with them bold ideas and concepts never explored before in clay. Suddenly there was an explosion of bright, colorful and new designs to baked clay and, more importantly, there arose a European market eager to obtain everything Faenza could produce.

Walter Del Pellegrino, author of -Italian Pottery Marks from Cantagalli to Fornasetti - and other Italian pottery guides
http://www.lulu.com/theauthors

[Jottagirl]

Hi, Walter,
Thanks for your great post with the Della Robbia info. I love learning new stuff.
But, the pieces I'm collecting really look like an imitation of real Della Robbia, with a rougher, cruder look and feel. But, I prefer it, rather than the more refined, crafted look.
Can you take another look at the pics I posted, and possibly help me pin it down any more?
Thanks again, very much…
Toni