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About the Item
This stunning pair of early 20th-century Capodimonte figurative porcelain lamps is a true masterpiece of Italian artistry. These elaborately painted ceramic table lamps depict vibrant bacchanal scenes, capturing semi-nude figures immersed in revelry and debauchery. The intricate details and vivid colors bring these lively and provocative scenes to life, showcasing the remarkable craftsmanship synonymous with Capodimonte.
Each lamp sits gracefully atop a brass double-tiered metal base. The lamps are in excellent used condition, free from chips or cracks, ensuring their beauty and integrity. The detailed design and vivid hues effortlessly complement a variety of dcors.
Size: Each lamp measures 36 inches from the base to the top of the harp and 20.5 inches from the brass base to the harp’s base. The ceramic lamp body is 9″ wide. The metal bases measure 9″ wide x 9″ deep x 4.5 inches tall.
Both lamps are perfectly proportioned and feature twin ceramic cherub handles. They are fully functional and also serve as exquisite works of art.
The lamps have US standard voltage and come with their original wire cord and plug. Each lamp has a painted “Capodimonte, Italy’ mark and the manufacturer’s label, “Hand Painted MR, Made in Italy,” located in the interior of each porcelain lamp base.
Pair of white silk gold braid bordered lampshades are included (see photos).
Size: Height: 17.5 in x Width: 23 in x Depth: 23 in.
Porcelain lamp, Capodimonte, Italian ceramic, porcelain table lamps, antique lamps, vintage lamps, early 20th century lamps, antique porcelain lamps, table lamps, early 20th century pair lamps, antique porcelain lamps, porcelain table tops, figurative lamps, ceramic lamps, bacchanal design, figurative design, art and design, tabletop, housewares, table lamps, decorative lamps, best of summer, decor, sculpture, mid-century modern, italian ceramic, italian designCreator: Capodimonte (Manufacturer)Dimensions: Height: 36 in (91.44 cm)Width: 9 in (22.86 cm)Depth: 9 in (22.86 cm)Sold As: Set of 2Power Source: Plug-inVoltage: 110-150vLampshade: IncludedStyle: Rococo (In the Style Of)Materials and Techniques: Ceramic,Porcelain,Glazed,Hand-PaintedPlace of Origin: ItalyPeriod: Early 20th CenturyDate of Manufacture: 1920-30sCondition: GoodWear consistent with age and use. The lamps are in excellent vintage condition. Some pitting is visible on one of the lamp bases, giving these early 20th-century decorative porcelain lamps a nice overall patina. Both lamps are in fine working condition.Seller Location: East Quogue, NYReference Number: 1stDibs: LU9410243185952Shop All Capodimonte
Capodimonte
If success is measured by lasting name recognition, Capodimonte porcelain would seem to be in the same league as such makers as Meissen, Svres and Wedgwood. Early examples of Capodimonte lamps as well as the Italian manufacturers celebrated porcelain vases, figurines and sculptures can be hard to come by, but the best later pieces possess the same over-the-top charm.
The Real Fabbrica (royal factory) di Capodimonte hasnt actually produced porcelain since the early 19th century, when Charless son Ferdinand sold it. Although secondary manufacturers have built upon the aesthetic and kept the name alive, some connoisseurs of the royal product feel these pieces should be labeled in the style of Capodimonte.
The timeline of royal Capodimonte porcelain is decidedly brief. From beginning to end, its manufacture lasted approximately 75 years. King Charles VII of Naples, who founded the manufactory in 1743, began experimenting with porcelain around 1738, the year he married Maria Amalia of Saxony. No coincidence there. His new bride was the granddaughter of Augustus the Strong, Elector of Saxony and founder of Meissen, the first European hard-paste porcelain manufactory. Her dowry included 17 Meissen table services.
Struck by porcelain fever, Charles built a dedicated facility on top of a hill (capo di monte) overlooking Naples. He financed expeditions to search for the right clay. He hired chemists and artisans to experiment. His earliest successes were small white snuffboxes and vases, although efforts soon progressed to full sets of tableware, decorative objects and stylized figurines of peasants and theatrical personalities.
In 1759, Charles succeeded to the throne of Spain. He moved the manufactory with him including 40 workers and 4 tons of clay and continued operations in Madrid. Twelve years later, his son Ferdinand IV, who inherited the throne of Naples, built a new factory there that became known for distinctly rococo designs.
The Napoleonic wars interrupted production, and around 1807, oversight of the royal factories was transferred to a franchisee named Giovanni Poulard-Prad.
Beginning in the mid-18th century, porcelain made by Charless factory was stamped with a fleur-de-lis, usually in underglaze blue. Pieces from Ferdinands were stamped with a Neapolitan N topped by a crown. When secondary manufacturers began production, they retained this mark, in multiple variations. The value of these later 19th- and 20th-century pieces is determined by the quality, not the Capodimonte porcelain marks.
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