Giustiniani - Dish - glazed earthenware - Tomb of Caius Cestius

Naples terracotta plate – Fabbrica Giustiniani – “Caius Cestius’ Tomb” – early 19th century

Interesting and refined oval plate in Naples terracotta, attributable to the production of the Fabbrica Giustiniani, one of the most important ceramic manufacturers active in Naples from the late 18th century to the first part of the 19th century.

At the center of the cavetto is hand-painted, within a rectangular reserve, a evocative view of Caius Cestius’ Tomb in Rome, a famous monument of antiquity that became one of the iconographic subjects linked to the neoclassical taste and the culture of the Grand Tour.

Below the depiction lies the handwritten inscription “Sepolcro di Caio Cestio,” preceded by the initials “F.G.,” presumably referring to the Fabbrica Giustiniani, and followed by the number “N. 13.”

Of particular merit is the decoration of the lip, entirely hand-painted, characterized by an elegant sequence of stylized motifs in black and reddish-brown tones, externally delimited by a black band with small white dot elements. A balanced composition and a strong representation of the neoclassical taste of the period.

Particularly significant bibliographic comparison: in the specialized literature devoted to the Migliuolo-Giustiniani Manufacture, terracottas with monumental views inserted within similar rectangular reserves and with decorative settings strictly comparable to the present example are documented. The related bibliographic pages are shown in the photographs of the lot and constitute an important element of typological comparison.

The Giustiniani manufacture and the subsequent collaboration with Migliuolo were protagonists of Neoclassical-tastes Naples terracotta production, in which views, monuments, landscapes and subjects inspired by antiquity found generous space, perfectly integrated into the figurative culture of the Grand Tour.

Dimensions: about 21.5 × 17.8 × 2 cm.

The piece preserves a pleasant antique patina and shows slight firing flaws, characteristic of the material, technique and era. There is also a very small glaze-combing in roughly the 11 o’clock area, visible in the photographs, which does not compromise the solidity of the terracotta nor affect the aesthetic reading of the object. Other normal signs of time and use are present.

A specimen of particular charm, interesting for both the collector of Neapolitan ceramics and 19th-century terracottas, and as a refined decorative object. The Roman subject and the neoclassical language also make it particularly suitable for collections dedicated to the Grand Tour, archaeology and Italian vedutismo.

The photos are an integral part of the description. Packaging will be handled by Ankerior, specialized in packaging and handling of artworks, with training and certification from Palazzo Spinelli, Florence."