Vaso Scultoreo Deruta Volpi mod.4A - Vase - Ceramic

Splendid and rare sculptural chalice-shaped vase in polychrome maiolica, entirely made and hand-painted at the historic “Maioliche Volpi” workshop in Deruta, founded in 1928 by the celebrated master ceramicist Serafino Volpi. Dating from the 1940s to the 1950s, this piece is an outstanding and sought-after example of the company’s avant-garde production, which sought to move beyond Umbrian Renaissance traditionalism in favor of a modern, organic design.
Artistic and Construction Features:
The vase stands out for its exceptional naturalistic high-relief decoration, in which the plastic material seems to come to life: on one side, a luxuriant cluster of black-purple grapes emerges, while the opposite side features a white-green grape variant. The tendrils and large vine leaves, beautifully glazed in shades of emerald green and turquoise, wrap around the structure, shaping even the upper rim into an asymmetrical, jagged form.
The finish is enhanced by a masterful, lavish application of pure gold, fired in a third firing, used to define the leaf veins and the contours of the reliefs, lending the piece extraordinary brilliance and visual depth.
Marks and Identification:
The base bears the authentic hand-painted signature “Volpi Deruta,” accompanied by the rare alphanumeric code “4a,” which identifies in the workshop’s period records the specific model shape (4) and this distinctive, richly decorated variant (a).
A piece of great historical and artistic value, ideal for collectors of 20th-century Italian ceramics, Art Deco design, and exceptional vintage objects.