BALDELLI (ITALY) VINTAGE SIGNED METALLIC SEPIA BROWN W/OLIVE 
HIGHLIGHTS BULBOUS CERAMIC
PORCELAIN VESSEL, W/SMALL COIL 
HANDLES & ARCHAIC FORM 
Circa 1954-1962
(Italian Modernist art pottery)

DESCRIPTION:
This magnificent and very complex signed Baldelli (Italy) mid-20th century metallic sepia brown and olive glazed exterior with burnt sienna interior wheel thrown, monumental porcelain ceramic urn, vessel or vase, has attached hand-rolled upper coiled, stubby handles that resemble metallic ringed handles for gripping and lifting the urn. The vessel recalls the archaic ceramic forms of the Byzantines, Romans, Egyptians and the ancient Greeks. It is clearly signed with a white maker's stamp on the baseplate 'Designed by Baldelli, Italy' and its high sophistication is owed principally to its very complex metallic glaze system, where metallic sepia, silver infused brown base glaze, is highlighted with earthy deep olives and its reflectivity also fluctuates between flat matte and satin episodes. This Modernist ceramic vessel is beautiful at first glance but it's even more beautiful upon closer scrutiny and upon further inquiry. It's ovoid form has a pronounced equatorial turn which bows outward and then quickly changes direction and ascends upward to the large thin-walled vessel top opening. For those who covet the sublime and the subtle and who prefer things to remain quiet and their intrinsic and inherent beauty a thing of mystery, beautiful understatement and of Minimalist tranquility and artistic balance. You will look far and wide before you encounter another Modernist Italian vessel with this much artistic confidence and maturity. Simply remarkable. Extraordinary.

DIMENSIONS:
10 ½" Height x 9" Width (widest point) x 2 ½" Rim diameter

CONDITION:
Very Good/Excellent overall vintage condition. Not a scratch, flea bite or mark on it. All four hand-built, rolled coil handles are without fractures, repairs or damage. Incredibly, the thin-walled porcelain vessel opening at the top is also without hairline cracks, flea-bites or other damage. There is some minor discoloration which looks like oil or foreign material but this appaears to be a part of the glaze and the firing process. It is otherwise remarkably and fortunately very clean. This was clearly a prized Modernist piece of ceramic Italian art that was protected and well-cared for by its former owner. It's archaic form and incredibly glazed metallic surfaces make this Italian mid-20th century work of ceramic art a near Modernist masterpiece.