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Italian Porcelain

Collection Info
Italian Porcelain

The earliest European porcelain was made in Florence between 1575 and 1587 under the patronage of Francesco I de' Medici, grand duke of Tuscany. A limited number of highly individual soft-paste porcelain objects were made.

Porcelain was not produced again in Italy until the early eighteenth century. Christoph Conrad Hunger, one of Du Paquier's original partners in Vienna, joined Francesco Vezzi to establish a porcelain manufactory in Venice. Hunger passed on two secrets of the production of porcelain known as the arcanum: access to kaolin and his knowledge of colours. In 1762 two other hard-paste porcelain enterprises, Le Nove and Cozzi, were established in Venice.

The Marchese Carlo Ginori began making hard-paste porcelain at Doccia in Florence in 1737. He also acquired expertise from two employees of Du Paquier. The manufactory is still in operation today. A famous soft-paste porcelain manufactory also operated at Capodimonte, Naples, between 1743 and 1759.

The Gardiner Museum’s Italian porcelain collection is modest in size. It was established by George and Helen Gardiner and enriched by gifts from the collection of Dr. Hans Syz.

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Scaramouche and La Scaramouche
Artist / Maker: Doccia Porcelain Manufactory
c.1770
Object number: G01.1.1-2
Beaker and saucer with the arms of Marchese Brignoli
Artist / Maker: Doccia Porcelain Manufactory
c.1748
Object number: G83.1.709.1-2
Harlequin
Artist / Maker: Geminiano Cozzi Factory
c.1770
Object number: G83.1.864
Pantalone
Artist / Maker: Doccia Porcelain Manufactory
c.1770
Object number: G83.1.870
Pilgrim Flask
Artist / Maker: Doccia Porcelain Manufactory
c.1765
Object number: G83.1.1063.1-.2
Sugar Box with Armorial
Artist / Maker: Doccia Porcelain Manufactory
c.1745-1750
Object number: G83.1.1105.1-2
Documentary Tea Bowl
Artist / Maker: Francesco and Giuseppe Vezzi Factory
c.1720-1727
Object number: G83.1.1106
Pair of Miniature Busts of a Man and a Woman
Artist / Maker: Doccia Porcelain Manufactory
c.1755-1760
Object number: G96.5.374.1a-b
Figure of Andromeda
Artist / Maker: Doccia Porcelain Manufactory
c.1780
Object number: G96.5.375
Coffee can with flowers
Artist / Maker: Doccia Porcelain Manufactory
c.1740-1750
Object number: G96.5.376
Cup and saucer with peasant children
Artist / Maker: Doccia Porcelain Manufactory
c.1760-1770
Object number: G96.5.377a-b
Cup and saucer with peasant scene
Artist / Maker: Doccia Porcelain Manufactory
c.1760-1770
Object number: G96.5.378a-b
Plate with Tulipano Design
Artist / Maker: Doccia Porcelain Manufactory
c.1765-1770
Object number: G96.5.379
Coffee cup and saucer with camaieu landscapes
Artist / Maker: Doccia Porcelain Manufactory
c.1770
Object number: G96.5.380a-b
Tea bowl and saucer, relief moulded
Artist / Maker: Doccia Porcelain Manufactory
c.1755-1760
Object number: G96.5.381a-b
Cup and Saucer
Artist / Maker: Doccia Porcelain Manufactory
c.1800
Object number: G96.5.382a-b
Covered écuelle and stand with camaieu scene
Artist / Maker: Doccia Porcelain Manufactory
c.1770
Object number: G96.5.383a-c
Cup and saucer with armorial crest
Artist / Maker: Doccia Porcelain Manufactory
c.1770
Object number: G96.5.384a-b
Pair of plates
Artist / Maker: Naples Porcelain Company
c.1800
Object number: G96.5.385.1-2
Pair of dessert plates with floral bouquets
Artist / Maker: Le Nove Porcelain Factory
c.1800
Object number: G96.5.386.1-2
Figure of a woman with sheep
Artist / Maker: N.F. Hewelcke
c.1760
Object number: G96.5.387
Figure
Artist / Maker: Doccia Porcelain Manufactory
c.1725
Object number: G96.5.388
Figural group of Pan and Nymph
Artist / Maker: Geminiano Cozzi Factory
c.1765
Object number: G96.5.389
Tea bowl and saucer with Imari pattern
Artist / Maker: Geminiano Cozzi Factory
c.1765
Object number: G96.5.390a-b