Plate
ca. 1870 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
During the 1870s the Museum acquired a group of ceramics to represent the skills of relatively less well-known factories in Italy in centres like Cortona, Gubbio and Florence. Such potteries made close imitations very much in the same spirit as the 15th and 16th century originals which were their inspiration. It was often described as 'old maiolica ware'. The fashion for this type of 'historicism' was widespread across western Europe and in Britain.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Tin-glazed earthenware, painted in colours |
| Brief description | Plate, tin-glazed earthenware, painted in colours, made by Torelli pottery, Florence, Italy, 1874-1877 |
| Physical description | Plate, deep. Tin-glazed earthenware, painted in colours with a cupid and a border of grotesques. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | 'T'(?) 'Torelli Firenze' |
| Object history | Bought from the art dealer William Campbell Spence, Florence in 1877. William Campbell Spence (1849-1927 living at 6, Via Micheli, Florence, Italy) was the son of William Blundell Spence (1814-1900) a painter, art collector and dealer. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | During the 1870s the Museum acquired a group of ceramics to represent the skills of relatively less well-known factories in Italy in centres like Cortona, Gubbio and Florence. Such potteries made close imitations very much in the same spirit as the 15th and 16th century originals which were their inspiration. It was often described as 'old maiolica ware'. The fashion for this type of 'historicism' was widespread across western Europe and in Britain. |
| Bibliographic reference | Frescobaldi Malenchini, Livia ed. With Balleri, Rita and Rucellai, Oliva, ‘Amici di Doccia Quaderni, Numero VII, 2013, The Victoria and Albert Museum Collection’, Edizioni Polistampa, Firenze, 2014
pp. 146-149, Cat, 132
132. Plate with Cupid showing
two broken hearts
circa 1874-1877
Jafet Torelli (1833-1898)
maiolica painted in colours
diam. 28,5 cm
J. Torelli/ Firenze
inv. 711-1877
purchase: William Campbell Spence, £ 1.5.0
Bibliography: unpublished
The Renaissance grotesques motifs that decorate these plates are interpreted according to the eclectic tastes of the era and are combined, in one case, with a portrait that resembles that of Bianca Cappello in the manner of Bronzino and, in another, with a playful Cupid shown against a backdrop of clouds. These three rare examples were made by Jafet Torelli in Florence after he had left the Ginori factory. Torelli had studied to be a sculptor at the Fine Arts Academy in Florence and worked at Doccia from 1865 until 1873 where he held various positions including that of chief modeler (BALLERI, RUCELLAI 2011, p. 88-89). His activity as an independent potter is documented by these three plates and by a few signed pieces that occasionally appear on the art market (see, for example, 500 YEARS OF DECORATIVE ARTS 2011, lot 104 and BRITISH AND EUROPEAN CERAMICS, 2012, lot 152).Although the range of colours used is cooler and more limited than that used at Doccia – gold lustre, for example, is never used – and the quality of the painting is not always as good as the Ginori products, Torelli’s ceramics received numerous awards at the International Exhibitions (DE GUBERNATIS 1892, p. 520-521). These plates, which were acquired by the museum in 1877, can be considered among the finest examples known.
O.R. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 711-1877 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
