Vintage Ceramic Jug by Giotto Giannoni, 1920s

MEASUREMENTS:
Height: 25.5 cm; Width: 12.5 cm; Depth: 11 cm; Weight: 0.588 kg

Item :
A splendid jug with an ovoid body, characterized by a narrow, slender neck that ends in an elegant, upward-pointing mouth. The piece is crafted from high-fired, glazed ceramic with a light satin finish, entirely hand-decorated. The strikingly vertical line features a refined trilobed mouth (the famous "pheasant beak" profile) and a tall, single-curved handle, entirely covered in copper green, a typical shade of the great Italian ceramic tradition. The handle, higher than the mouth of the jug, features an elongated profile of rare elegance, terminating at the joints with a beautiful, stylized leaf motif. The work is signed "G. Giotto" under the base, accompanied by the letters "MSS," an acronym for the place of production (Monte San Savino, Arezzo). Created by Giotto Giannoni (1895–1963), it can be ascribed to the very first and most valuable production of the factory, dated between 1920 and 1930; this date is confirmed by the evident ancient patina covering the object. The decorative apparatus, executed entirely with the brush tip, is exceptionally rich and of the highest artistic quality. On the belly are two distinct and mirror-image floral compositions: the first with pure white daisies and the second with corollas of flowers in shades of pink and orange, immersed in dense, finely shaded foliage. The plant motifs also delicately decorate the base and the section below the mouth. The central section features a marvelous framed landscape view, depicting a charming medieval village dominated by three tall, slender towers and immersed in a rural setting—an iconic subject deeply rooted in the Tuscan pictorial tradition of the period. The piece has been specifically antiqued to evoke the historic Renaissance and 17th-century majolica from which it draws inspiration.

Useful information for appraising this piece:
In our online searches, we found several pieces from the Giannoni Giotto factory ranging from €150-€300 for smaller, more recent pieces with simpler, less complex decorations, to €600-€900 for larger ceramics or those featuring complex structural forms, such as the typical "Ingannavillano" secret jug or siphon spouts. Pairs of large vases or monumental display majolica from the early period can also fetch upwards of €1,200-€1,500. Our jug ​​is not particularly large, but it features particularly fine decoration. Furthermore, it is worth considering that pieces made between 1919 and the late 1930s are the rarest and most sought-after by collectors, as they are crafted entirely using the original wood-fired kiln technique. The decoration, featuring the typical dreamy and evanescent Tuscan landscape (cypress trees, hills, and farmhouses) or depicting the famous medieval villages of the time, represent the master's most celebrated and historicized stylistic decorations. Our piece features a particularly complex decoration divided into three distinct scenes on the base (the main landscape flanked by two extremely rich floral decorations on the sides), a characteristic that demonstrates a complexity and time-consuming execution that clearly differentiates this piece from serial or later production. A rare, highly fascinating piece, ideal for refined collectors and lovers of twentieth-century ceramic art.