The ribbed vase designed by Giovanni Guerrini for Melandri & Focaccia, dating from 1928 to 1930, is a refined example of Faenza ceramics poised between Art Deco and twentieth-century Italian decorative arts. The work was created in a particularly fertile context: during these years, Faenza was one of the leading centres for the renewal of artistic maiolica, thanks to the collaboration between designers, decorators, and distinguished manufacturers.
His form is articulated through deep vertical ribbing, which animates the body and opens into a wavy rim at the top. However, the structure is not merely decorative: the rhythm of the ribs defines the volume of the object and enhances its sculptural presence. Furthermore, the shaped base provides stability while maintaining a balanced relationship between vertical momentum and solidity.
Particularly significant is the use of lustre-glazed maiolica, a technique that gives the surface metallic reflections and rich chromatic variations. In this piece, the ceramic material acquires an almost iridescent quality, where light, colour, and form interact continuously.
The “Melandri” signature beneath the base confirms its connection to the workshop, while the published references further enhance its historical and collector interest. Overall, this vase testifies to the quality of the collaboration between Giovanni Guerrini and Melandri & Focaccia, combining formal research, technical mastery, and the decorative taste of early twentieth-century Italy.
Description: In lustre-glazed maiolica, with a body articulated by deep vertical ribbing opening into a wavy rim, raised on a shaped base, signed underneath “Melandri”, H cm 23×22.5.
Publications: Focaccia & Melandri Faenza Maioliche d’Arte. Catalogo Illustrato, Rizzoli & C., Milan, 1925, pl. 23; E. Gaudenzi, Pietro Melandri 1885–1976, Faenza, 2009, pp. 293–294; F. Bertoni, Giovanni Guerrini. Dalla bottega dell’arte al Made in Italy, La Mandragora Editrice, 2011.
Hammer Price: € 1.625,00
Auction 94 – June 4th 2026 – 20th century design and decorative arts
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