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Delicate, paper-thin, light as a feather, and with an iridescent shimmer, Fausto Melotti’s maiolica bowls are worthy of being likened to magic, as they truly nigh on the immaterial. Chromatic effects, including metallic lustres freely running into each other, appear united with a fine ceramic body, merging plastic and pictorial values into one. They are the fruit of Melotti’s superior know-how and ability to handle clay, glaze properties, and his mastery of the fire in the kiln. For the artist, this process is an avenue to explore the impossible: getting close to a void, an expression, or a form of the intangible.
Melotti ceramics in the garden of his studio, Milan, circa 1953.
Credit: La Ceramica, no.6, June 1953The present bowl, and those in lot 259, are representative of Melotti’s period of fervent research into maiolica works, produced in his Milan studio at 26 via Leopardi during the post-World War II years. Unlike his contemporary and friend Lucio Fontana, Melotti fired his works in his own kiln and neither participated in the adventures in Albisola nor collaborated with other ceramicists. The bowls reflect Melotti’s rather secretive and intimate research into the qualities of the ceramic medium and glazes, as well as the firing conditions of his own kiln, to approach perfection by amalgamating form and colour into an expression of anti-matter.
Melotti’s close affinity with the ceramic processes were described by the critic Elio Palazzo in 1953: "The special feature, but above all the quality of Melotti's work, whether pearls in necklaces, vases or sculptures - lies both in the small imperfections, in the cracks and plastic deformations caused by the fire during firing, as well as by manual modelling which make the light sparkle in their at once smooth and moving surfaces. The thinly glazed, reflective maiolica, worked with ductileness like metal plates, catches and reflects the light with particular effects that have been studied [by Melotti] since the early 1930s, giving the entire work a deep tactile and visual pleasure".
By Dr. Lisa Hockemeyer, Art and Design Historian and Associate Professor of Design, Politecnico di Milano
Provenance
Antonio Fornaroli, Milan
Thence by descentLiterature
Antonella Commellato and Marta Melotti, eds., Fausto Melotti: L’Opera in Ceramica, exh. cat., Museo di Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Trento e Rovereto, Milan, 2003, p. 310
Catalogue Essay
The present lot is registered in the Fondazione Fausto Melotti, Milan, as number CO 022.
Phillips wishes to thank Rudi Cerri of the Fondazione Fausto Melotti for his assistance in cataloguing the present lot.
229
Bowl
circa 1955
Glazed ceramic.
12 x 25.6 x 19.6 cm (4 3/4 x 10 1/8 x 7 3/4 in.)
Underside with artist's seven dot cipher.
Estimate
£5,000 - 7,000 ‡♠
Sold for £6,350
Antonia King
Head of Sale, Design
+44 20 7901 7944
Antonia.King@phillips.com
Casa Fornaroli
London Auction 27 April 2023
201
Gio Ponti
Scenography sketch
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000 ‡♠
Sold for £6,350
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202
Gio Ponti
Unique inset drinks cabinet with integrated 'Le bariste' painting and shelf
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000 ‡♠
Sold for £22,860
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203
Gio Ponti
Group of nine glasses
Estimate £1,800 - 2,400 ‡
Sold for £6,096
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204
Gio Ponti
Prototype armchair
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000 ‡
Sold for £6,350
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205
Pablo Picasso
'Madoura'
Estimate £1,500 - 2,000 ‡♠
Sold for £2,159
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206
Thomas Stearns
Vase, model no. 8632, from the 'Cilindri' series
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000 ‡
Sold for £16,510
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207
Gio Ponti
'I fantini' toy furniture
Estimate £1,500 - 2,000 ‡
Sold for £1,651
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208
Tapio Wirkkala
Rare bowl, model no. 506.0
Estimate £1,200 - 1,800 ‡
Sold for £1,524
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209
Carlo de Carli
Set of eight dining chairs, model no. 671
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000 ‡
Sold for £10,160
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210
Gio Ponti
Two costume sketches, for the 'Festa Romantica' ballet
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000 ‡♠
Sold for £2,286
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211
Gio Ponti
'Morandiana' bottle with stopper
Estimate £1,500 - 2,000 ‡
Sold for £1,905
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212
Pablo Picasso
'Visage de face'
Estimate £1,500 - 2,000 ‡♠
Sold for £2,159
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213
Gio Ponti
Unique large wardrobe with integrated door
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000 ‡
Sold for £25,400
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214
Fausto Melotti
Untitled
Estimate £20,000 - 30,000 ‡♠
Sold for £40,640
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215
Paolo De Poli
Group of thirteen coasters and two stars
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000 ‡
Sold for £10,795
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216
Fausto Melotti
Necklace
Estimate £1,800 - 2,400 ‡♠
Sold for £5,080
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217
Pablo Picasso
'Femme au chapeau fleuri'
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000 ‡♠
Sold for £21,590
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218
Pablo Picasso
'Vallauris'
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000 ‡♠
Sold for £16,510
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219
Pablo Picasso
'Visage aux mains'
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000 ‡♠
Sold for £9,525
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220
Fausto Melotti
Important vase
Estimate £8,000 - 12,000 ‡♠
Sold for £15,240
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221
Gio Ponti
Rare extendable dining table
Estimate £15,000 - 20,000 ‡
Sold for £35,560
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222
Venini
'Poliedri' ceiling light
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000 ‡
Sold for £9,525
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223
Fulvio Bianconi
Two bottles with stoppers, model nos. 4581 and 4582
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000 ‡
Sold for £3,556
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224
Gio Ponti
Two custom bookcases with integrated cabinets
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000 ‡
Sold for £76,200
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225
Pietro Chiesa
Flower holder, model no. 2069
Estimate £1,200 - 1,800 ‡
Sold for £4,826
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226
Gio Ponti
'Balletto della Scala' jacket
Estimate £600 - 800
Sold for £699
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227
Pablo Picasso
'Joueur de diaule'
Estimate £6,000 - 8,000 ‡♠
Sold for £12,700
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228
Pablo Picasso
'Trois personnages sur tremplin'
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000 ‡♠
Sold for £2,286
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229
Fausto Melotti
Bowl
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000 ‡♠
Sold for £6,350
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230
Fausto Melotti
Necklace
Estimate £1,800 - 2,400 ‡♠
Sold for £4,445
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231
Fausto Melotti
Earrings
Estimate £1,200 - 1,800 ‡♠
Sold for £6,985
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232
Gio Ponti
Writing desk
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000 ‡
Sold for £5,715
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233
Max Ingrand
Table lamp, model no. 2206
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000 ‡
Sold for £9,525
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234
Fausto Melotti
'L'abbraccio'
Estimate £15,000 - 20,000 ‡♠
Sold for £40,640
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235No Reserve
Fausto Melotti
'Orchestra d'angeli'
Estimate £400 - 600 •‡♠
Sold for £2,794
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236
Carlo Scarpa
Plate
Estimate £800 - 1,200 ‡
Sold for £1,905
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237
Gio Ponti
Custom wall-mounted console
Estimate £7,000 - 9,000 ‡
Sold for £10,795
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238
Gio Ponti
Two prototype 'Tubi' flower holders
Estimate £1,000 - 1,500 ‡
Sold for £3,048
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239
Gio Ponti
Sketch with notes for a 'Venere degli stracci' figure
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000 ‡♠
Sold for £2,794
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240
Paolo Buffa
Set of four chairs
Estimate £1,500 - 2,500 ‡
Sold for £8,890
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241
Fulvio Bianconi
Carafe and set of twenty-four glasses
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000 ‡
Sold for £8,890
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242
Gio Ponti and Adriano Spilimbergo
Unique illuminated wardrobe with twelve integrated paintings
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000 ‡
Sold for £63,500
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243
Venini
Pair of 'Poliedri' ceiling lights
Estimate £4,000 - 6,000 ‡
Sold for £13,970
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244
Gio Ponti and Paolo De Poli
Rare vase
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000 ‡
Sold for £6,985
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245
Tomaso Buzzi
Bowl, model no. 3617
Estimate £400 - 600 ‡
Sold for £572
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246No Reserve
Fausto Melotti
Untitled
Estimate £1,000 - 1,500 •‡♠
Sold for £191
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247
Gio Ponti
Rare wall-mounted chest of drawers
Estimate £10,000 - 15,000 ‡
Sold for £43,180
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248
Tobia Scarpa
Two bowls
Estimate £1,200 - 1,800 ‡
Sold for £2,794
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249No Reserve
Tobia Scarpa
Large vase, model no. 8507
Estimate £2,000 - 3,000 •‡
Sold for £1,778
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250
Pablo Picasso
'Footballeur'
Estimate £8,000 - 12,000 ‡♠
Sold for £139,700
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251
Paolo De Poli
Vase and dish
Estimate £800 - 1,200 ‡
Sold for £1,016
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252
Fausto Melotti
Necklace
Estimate £1,800 - 2,400 ‡♠
Sold for £4,826
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253
Gio Ponti and Piero Zuffi
Unique bookcase with cabinets and integrated lithograph
Estimate £8,000 - 12,000 ‡
Sold for £53,340
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254
Paolo De Poli
Large 'Accordi su fondo rosso' dish
Estimate £1,500 - 2,500 ‡
Sold for £5,334
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255
Fulvio Bianconi
Set of twelve glasses
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000 ‡
Sold for £7,620
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256
Gio Ponti
Sketch for a fresco on the Scala del Sapere in Palazzo Bo, Padua
Estimate £1,500 - 2,000 ‡♠
Sold for £4,064
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257
Lucio Fontana
'Concetto spaziale'
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000 ‡♠
Sold for £53,340
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258
Carlo Scarpa
Two small vessels, model nos. 3552 and 3635
Estimate £300 - 500 ‡
Sold for £1,397
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259
Carlo Scarpa
Frame
Estimate £1,000 - 1,500 ‡
Sold for £2,413
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260
Fausto Melotti
Two bowls
Estimate £3,000 - 5,000 ‡♠
Sold for £6,985
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261
Gio Ponti
Prototype side table
Estimate £5,000 - 7,000 ‡
Sold for £27,940
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