Italian ceramics Maestro Fantoni
Raymor was a US import/distribution company of home decor, based in NY and founded by Richard Irving. They built a special relationship with many European designers and this included Marcello Fantoni, for the emerging markets in the USA. In the early 50‘s, postwar Italy was in recovery and needed exports while postwar America was booming and had a hunger for modern decor. The pottery styles of the talented Macrello Fantoni with his cutting edge designs were a perfect fit and his business flourished. This afforded him the freedom to experiment and be innovative and develop a unique range of stylish Mid-Century ceramic products.
Relative to the more classical trends at the time, Fantoni pushed the boundaries, with his bold 3D ceramic interpretations of the cubist art of Picasso and Braque. These innovations were accepted and encouraged by importers and fortunately the market responded favourably.
Marcello Fantoni – abstract figure
( midcenturia.com )
Marcello Fantoni’s fascination with ceramic art stretches back to 1927, where he studied at the Institute of Art at Porta Romana. Here his formative years were influenced by ceramicist Carlo Guerrini, (artistic director of the Cantagalli factory) and other teachers including Libero Andreotti and Bruno Innocenti in sculpture and Gianni Vagnetti in figure art. He established the Fantoni Ceramic Studio in Florence in 1936 and featured some of his pieces at Florentine Arts and Crafts Exhibit in 1937 where it was widely embraced. In the later decades, especially from the 50’s to the 70’s, the success of Fantoni’s work continued to rise, his unique pieces of sculpture and ceramic formations being characterized by designs in step with the contemporary artistic styles.
Most Mid-Century collectors covet a Marcello Fantoni piece for their flair and originality. Fantoni’s ceramic designs came to embody the timeless appeal of classic and traditional Italian pottery merged with challenging modernist and progressive movements. His original spirit of modernity featuring stylization inspired by Etruscan models were rendered modern because of the innovative adaptation of materials, glazes and colors and also his application of cubist abstractions. Fantoni represents a fascinating chapter in the evolution of Mid-Century modern ceramics.
Fantoni modernist, monumental bottleneck vase, 1955
Converso
Fantoni ceramic sculpture
( sold by Craig Van Den Brulle, NY )
Fantoni figural sculpture
Marcello Fantoni sculptural vessel featuring a warrior with a shield and spear.
( artanddesignconnection.blogspot.com.au )
Fantoni Italian Vase
( artanddesignconnection.blogspot.com.au )
Fantoni modernist bottle
Fantoni – Three Element Glazed Ceramic Vase – 1956
20th century large Fantoni vase – 1959
Fantoni Hand Painted Ceramic Lamp
( www.starkeld.com )
3 Fantoni vases{
( Maurice Beane Art & Design )
Las Vegas Antiques Roadshow appraisal of a Marcello Fantoni cubist Satyr figure
Marcello Fantoni Jug
Fantoni Cylindrical vase
Fantoni modernist vase
( cambiaste.com )
Italian Fantoni tri bottle sculpture
( Treadway Toomey Galleries )
Fantoni abstract sculpture
( uncanny Australia shape )
Fantoni Hand painted lamp
Fantoni Italian Vase with a warrior figure on a horse.
Marcello Fantoni Figural Vase
Fantoni Mid Century Vase
Fantoni Vase designed for Raymor
Fantoni bottiglia, Italy
Fantoni ceramic sculpture
( 1stDibs )
Marcello Fantoni 1915 – 2011
Fantoni Mid-Century wall plaque
( www.starkeld.com )
Fantoni Italian pottery vase
‘ Gossiping Ladies ‘ cubist ‘Satiro Innamorato’ sculptural lamp by Fantoni – mid 50’s
( http://modernarmada.wordpress.com )
Fantoni drip glaze vases
Tall cylindrical bottle vase – Fantoni
Large sculpture abstract Fantoni
Fantoni bottle
Marcello Fantoni ovoid vase (1915)
Fantoni tall modernist ptichers
Marcello Fantoni vase
Marcello Fantoni Figural Sculpture
Fantoni flower vase
Modernist Berlin etsy
Italian Vase Fantoni
Fantoni abstract mid century cow sculpture
Mid Century Harlequin warrior figure cylindrical lamp – Marcello Fantoni
Large 41 inches
Sputnik Modern, Dallas TX
Fantoni Slab Vase – 1960
height 33cm
Fantoni 50’s bottle vase
Italian Fantoni rectangular vase
Etruscan sgraffito ceramic vase – Marcello Fantoni
Sold Rago Arts, NJ
Pair of Fantoni 60’s lamps