by wdel on November 2nd, 2009, 10:42 pm
The bottle was created as a limited edition by "Ce.As." (abbreviation for “Ceramists, Associated”). The studio was founded in 1945, based in Marina Albisola. It was created by four well -known artists: Lina Assilini Poggi, Pietro Rosso, Angelo Platino and Pietro Mantero. The company closed in 1970.
Of the four artists comprising CE.AS, Lina's work can be identified by the use of her unique technique known as 'granulato mat' (granulation on a mat background). This technique was attempted by many artists in Italy but none were able to do so with her mastery.
Of the dozen or so pieces I have viewed over the years the decoration shown on your bottle is a signature style of Poggi. She invented a new decorative repertoire of rural polychromatic figures that were quite different than were being created by other Italian artists of the time.
Ce.As won numerous awards in both local and national competitions in the 1950’s and 60’s and their work is highly collectible. At the annual Festival of Ceramics held in Albisola Ce.As, in the category of “Modern Pottery” won top prize every year from 1961 to 1964. Examples are on exhibit in the Ceramics Museum in Albisola.
Marsala Florio is a Sicilian wine company that has been around since 1822 and is still in operation. They are more famous for their advertising artwork than their wine. The company hired the best artists and lithographers of the day to create bright, wonderful posters which today command high prices. Obviously, they also hired great ceramicists to create containers for their wine. This bottle is very a wonderful example of the art pottery produced by Ce.As in the late 1950's and early 60's.
Walter Del Pellegrino
