To see more examples of Florence Ceramics as well as other Pasadena-produced ceramics from the museum's collection, view our video History At Home - Mid-Century Ceramics. Pasadena Museum of History has a collection of Florence Ceramics, many of which were on view in the 2016 exhibition, Cast & Fired: Pasadena’s Mid-Century Ceramics Industry. in 1964, the production plant-but not the copyright to any Florence figurines-was sold to the Scripto Corporation, which specialized in advertising ware. 10.5 in high, 7.5 in wide (Gift of Doug Foland, 2010.008.007)įollowing court battles with the Lefton Company over copyright infringement and the death of Clifford Ward, Sr. Marked: Florence Ceramics/ Pasadena/California/Semi-porcelain. Marked: Story Book Hour/Florence Ceramics/Pasadena/ California/©.Ħ.75 in high, 8.5 in wide (Gift of Doug Foland, 2010.008.023)įigurine, Margaret. Delicately articulated fingers were another defining feature of Florence Ceramics figurines, and twenty-two karat gold accents provided the final touches.įigurine, Story Book Hour. Florence often produced figurines embellished with slip-coated lace, which burned away during the firing leaving the delicate ceramic replica. She also drew inspiration from Godey’s Ladies Book. The company produced a selection of home products, but is best known for the “Florence Collection”- authentic, detailed reproductions of historical and fictional characters, including figures from two well-known paintings at the Huntington Library-Thomas Lawrence’s Sarah Barrett Moulton: Pinkie and Thomas Gainsborough’s The Blue Boy. The business moved again in 1949, this time to a modern factory at 74 South San Gabriel Boulevard in Pasadena. By 1946, the business outgrew her garage and moved to a facility on the east side of Pasadena. joined the business after they returned to Pasadena following World War II. Her husband Clifford and oldest son Clifford, Jr. Initially begun as a hobby, it turned into a business when Florence received a surprising order for eighty-four figurines. Most of these early “garage” pieces were of children. Encouraged by a professor, she began making ceramics out of her garage in 1942. Pasadenan Florence Ward (1898-1991) began taking art classes as a way of coping with the death of one of her sons in 1939. Allen Hawkins (Hawkins Collection, JAH10086). Last but not least Nicola uses only traditional techniques and glazes: he does not allow himself any shortcut and the end results is absolutely stunning.Florence Ward, 1953. That means a creative, unique interpretation of tradition. Secondly, the decorative patterns created by Nicola are an ideal compendium of the traditional colors and designs that in different ages have been used in Caltagirone. The same applies to all the ceramics signed by Ceramiche Sofia. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International. What’s so special about Ceramiche Sofia pottery then? Look at the head planters: each piece of fruit is hand modeled, as well as every other detail, and the result is a one-of-a-kind planter. Inca Huasi Regional Archaeological Museum Collection. Today Ceramiche Sofia’s Sicilian ceramics are available in the most exclusive home décor stores in Italy and we are really proud to offer them to our International clientele. Their vision, their talents and their commitment have been rewarded. About 400 B.C.jpg 4,000 × 6,000 7.96 MB Calyx crater (4). Indeed many skilled artisans run their studios in Caltagirone and most of them specialize in traditional Sicilian pottery. For the two young brothers this was a second job and it had the flavor of a challenge as competition was really high. They started making pottery in a small garage, Nicola doing the actual production and Giuseppe traveling to sell them at Italian pottery fairs and to stores specializing in high end Italian home decor. Impassionate lovers of Caltagirone pottery, Giuseppe and Nicola have worked hard to show their talents to the world. The head planters, the centerpieces, the vases as well as the quintessential Sicilian ceramic objects like the Lumiere, gorgeous ceramic figurines and candleholders, are completely handcrafted in Ceramiche Sofia’s workshop using traditional techniques and glazes to deliver the same vivid colors, intricate patterns and elegant shapes that have been distinctive elements of Caltagirone pottery through the ages.Ĭeramiche Sofia is a small family studio founded by the Intonato brothers at the turn of the century. Ceramiche Sofia’s Sicilian pottery is handmade in Caltagirone, the city that has contributed greatly to the fame of Italian majolica all over the world.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |