Art Deco Style Ceramic Wall Mask Depicting the Face of a Little Girl by Guido Cacciapuoti, Italy, Early 1900s for sale at Pamono

Description

Wonderful glazed stoneware mask, ceramic slightly softened with kaolin, depicting the face of a little girl with a handkerchief knotted on the head, entirely hand decorated and made by the famous ceramist of Neapolitan origin, but working in Milan, Guido Cacciapuoti, signed by hand with nib by the artist on the edge, directly on the ceramic impasto, then there is another name that could be the title of the work or the name of the decorator, and finally the place of origin “MADE IN ITALY,” also on the back is a vintage stamp with the words “Cacciapuoti” and “Ginobbi-Roma,” presumably the art gallery that offered the object. Dated in the first decades of the 20th century, around 1930-1940 in full Art Deco style. Beautiful is the delicate, barely winking smile that highlights the delightful dimples on the child’s cheeks and the handkerchief covering her head sublimely decorated in full Deco style on a black background, all with a satin finish, while the complexion has a slight vitrification creating a visually striking contrast.

Information on artist and/or manufacture:
Guido Cacciapuoti, born in Naples in 1892, belongs to an ancient family of majolica makers from which he learned the secrets of ceramic art. In 1927 he founded “Grs e ceramiche d’arte” in Milan with his brother. A very talented modeler, he came to prominence for his beautiful sculptures, especially with animal subjects. In 1930, due to the untimely death of his brother, he remained sole owner of the firm. The manufactory immediately enjoyed great success and became internationally famous especially for the sculptures made by Guido Cacciapuoti, who died in 1953 and is now considered one of the most important Italian ceramists of the first half of the 20th century.