The sculpture “Mask of the Wind” by Pietro Melandri represents a particularly effective example of his research in the field of 20th-century artistic ceramics, where tradition and experimentation coexist in balance. Active in Faenza, a centre of primary importance for Italian maiolica, Melandri distinguished himself through a production that went beyond the decorative dimension, moving towards an autonomous and strongly expressive form of sculpture.
In this work, the face appears smooth, almost abstract, characterized by essential and regular features, with barely incised eyes and a subtly outlined mouth, suggesting a suspended and silent dimension. However, it is in the contrast with the surrounding element that the work finds its greatest strength: around the mask, the ceramic material develops in a more animated and irregular manner, clearly recalling the action of the wind. The sculptural and dynamic forms, resembling dishevelled hair or natural flows, create an effect of continuous movement, emphasized by the glazed surface and chromatic variations.
Furthermore, this contrast between order and movement reflects a tension typical of Melandri’s artistic language, in which the human figure is reinterpreted through a modern formal synthesis. On the other hand, his participation in the principal exhibitions of the period testifies to his active involvement in the artistic debate of the time.
Overall, “Mask of the Wind” can therefore be considered a work that combines compositional rigour and expressive freedom, conveying an intense and immediately recognizable image of Melandri’s artistic language.
Description: Lustre-glazed maiolica, signed Melandri (1940s–1950s), H cm 338.
Hammer Price: € 6.150,00
Auction 1 – Gregory’s Casa d’Aste
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