ULISSE CANTAGALLI, FLORENCE, ITALY, LATE 19TH CENTURY

By the nineteenth century, the introduction of the studio potter, led by Joseph-Théodore Deck, propelled a fascination with reviving Iznik-style pottery in Europe. Deck’s successful experiments with Iznik went on to inspire Ulisse and Giuseppe Canatgalli to produce their own works which paired the characteristic polychrome saz-style decoration with large, un-Ottoman forms (Denny, 2004, pp.221-22). The impressive scale of this vase was most likely drawn from a vase in a Royal Italian collection published by Deck in 1887 (Deck, 1887, fig.11, p.26). Cantagalli’s fascination with reproducing known pieces in public and private collections is further illustrated by an almost identical vase produced by them which sold Christie’s, South Kensington, 22 April 2016, lot 426 or another that sold more recently in these Rooms, 25 June 2020, lot 10.