Vintage Italian Carlo Mollica Style Ceramic Figurine Girl Mandolin Fawn 572
£27.00
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Vintage Italian Carlo Mollica Style Ceramic Figurine Girl Mandolin Fawn 572
£27.00
Item Overview
- Type: Vintage Fine Art Figurine / Mid-Century Continental Porcelain Sculpture / Interior Display Curio
- Brand: Unbranded Italian Marque
- Artist / Style: Carlo Mollica Aesthetic / Capodimonte Style
- Manufacturer: Neapolitan Ceramic Studio / Italian Art Pottery Foundry
- MPN: Italy 572
- Place of Origin: Italy (Naples / Bassano Production Center)
- Style: Mid-Century Italian Ceramic Revival / Whimsical Rococo Romantisme
- Colour: Alpine White Ground, Pastel Sage Green Base, Ochre Brown Mandolin, Soft Fawn Furs, and Hand-Painted Indigo Blue Floral Clusters
- Design Era: Mid-Century Decorative Era (c. 1950s–1960s)
- Material: Hand-Molded Fine Hard-Paste Earthenware / Glazed Majolica-Style Ceramic
- Set Includes: One (1) Single Integrated Multi-Figure Ceramic Group (Girl, Mandolin, Tree Branch, and Fawn Assembly)
- Features: Hand-Painted Daisy Garlands, Sculpted String Instrument, Detailed Woodland Fawn, Hand-Brushed Base Model Numbers
- Condition: Excellent Vintage Condition (The porcelain core maintains full structural integrity, entirely free from perimeter chips, cracks, or webbed age-crazing; both the fragile mandolin neck and fawn ears are whole and unrestored)
- Size & Capacity: Classic mantelpiece or display cabinet scale; stands approximately 17cm (6.7 inches) in total vertical height, with an underbase width of approximately 9.5cm (3.7 inches).
Dating & Historical Context
- Dating: This expressive piece of continental art pottery dates to the golden era of post-war Italian ceramic manufacturing, spanning c. 1950–1959. The specific technical details—including the hand-painted, block-letter underglaze "ITALY" notation, the crisp script model digits "572", and the specialized glaze thickness—are reliable signatures identifying mid-20th-century studio work.
- Historical Note: Following the Second World War, the artisan pottery studios of Naples and Bassano del Grappa saw a major international revival, heavily inspired by the whimsical 18th-century porcelain figures of Capodimonte. Master modelers like Carlo Mollica popularized a distinct style featuring wide-eyed, sentimental characters interacting with woodland animals or musical instruments. This specific figurine captures a young girl perched on a rustic tree branch playing a miniature mandolin, while a stylized, wide-eyed fawn rests against her knee. Her tiered white ruffle dress is decorated with loose, vibrant hand-brushed daisy clusters, a signature design element of the Mollica studio style. These beautiful pieces were highly popular exports to high-end British gift boutiques during the 1950s lifestyle boom.
Description
A beautifully expressive, bright, and highly tactile acquisition for collectors of mid-century Italian pottery, vintage nursery decorators, or traditional salon display curators, this genuine Italian porcelain figurine is full of European character. The hand-molded earthenware structure features deep, fluid folds along the girl's ruffled dress and collar, catching the light perfectly beneath a high-shine glossy finish. The musical woodland scene is fully brought to life by vibrant underglaze paintwork, displaying a wonderful balance of pastoral sweetness and expert ceramic casting.
A beautifully expressive, bright, and highly tactile acquisition for collectors of mid-century Italian pottery, vintage nursery decorators, or traditional salon display curators, this genuine Italian porcelain figurine is full of European character. The hand-molded earthenware structure features deep, fluid folds along the girl's ruffled dress and collar, catching the light perfectly beneath a high-shine glossy finish. The musical woodland scene is fully brought to life by vibrant underglaze paintwork, displaying a wonderful balance of pastoral sweetness and expert ceramic casting.
Expert Identification & Design Features:
- Carlo Mollica Design Aesthetic: Showcases the classic mid-century Neapolitan look, balancing fine figurative detail with a cheerful floral pattern.
- Intact Extended Details: The highly vulnerable elements—including the long mandolin tuning neck and the fawn's pointed ears—remain perfectly whole and unchipped.
- Hand-Painted Floral Motifs: The dress features hand-applied indigo blue petals with rich ochre centers, ensuring that each individual piece carries unique artistic brushstrokes.
- Vitrified Hollow Base: The recessed underbase features the hand-brushed factory sequence numbers and country parameters cleanly preserved in black enamel.
Condition Report
This mid-century Italian figurine is in exceptional condition, showcasing pristine display preservation with no historic structural chips, hairline cracks, glaze crazing, or restoration work. The delicate, highly vulnerable components—most notably the extended neck of the mandolin and the pointed ears of the woodland fawn—are beautifully intact, which is remarkable for earthenware figures of this era. The painted enamels remain bright and unrubbed, free from handling wear, and the high-gloss glaze preserves its glassy shine without scuffing or cabinet dullness. Please examine the detailed gallery photos to confirm the surface finish and verify the physical scale.
This mid-century Italian figurine is in exceptional condition, showcasing pristine display preservation with no historic structural chips, hairline cracks, glaze crazing, or restoration work. The delicate, highly vulnerable components—most notably the extended neck of the mandolin and the pointed ears of the woodland fawn—are beautifully intact, which is remarkable for earthenware figures of this era. The painted enamels remain bright and unrubbed, free from handling wear, and the high-gloss glaze preserves its glassy shine without scuffing or cabinet dullness. Please examine the detailed gallery photos to confirm the surface finish and verify the physical scale.
Shipping & Logistics
- Domestic Shipping: FREE UK TRACKED DELIVERY.
- Packaging: Securely double-wrapped using structural custom cushioning and high-density foam to protect delicate finishes and fragile components during transit.
- Dispatch: Order before 12:00 pm and we ship same day.
Returns & Payment Policies
We want you to be delighted with your heritage find.
We want you to be delighted with your heritage find.
- Not as Described: In the unlikely event of an error in our listing, we will provide a full refund and cover the return postage costs.
- Change of Mind: We accept returns within 30 days; however, in these instances, the buyer is responsible for the return shipping costs.