Vintage Hand-Painted Italian Ceramic Decorative Platter by Giovanni DeSimone (1969)

Vintage hand-painted Italian ceramic decorative platter by Giovanni DeSimone (1969). One of two platters on hand in the gallery (one is the face of a woman and the other, a man), this piece exemplifies his use of vivid colour as a pottery trademark. The bright Sicilian sun encouraged such use of colour. Another evident inspiration in the artist's creation was cubism. Cubism created a new dimension to painting which abandoned traditional Renaissance era perspective. Objects and figures were portrayed from various angles. That inspiration is less evident in this piece than in the other. The bright colours and exaggerated features here however, demonstrate optimism and even a sense of humour in the maker. This platter is in fair overall condition with a surface hairline crack visible on the lower right which does not affect the integrity of the piece. An original pottery sticker remains affixed to the underside. Please enjoy the many photos accompanying the listing. Upon request a video will be provided. 

About the Artist: Giovanni DeSimone (1930-1991) was born in Palermo, Sicily to Italian aristocrats. As a young child he traveled to Somalia, and his experiences there clearly stayed with him and inspired his life’s work, which demonstrated an appreciation for and a belief in the value of what is simple and unsophisticated as well as an appreciation for the cubist movement that was popularised by Picasso, Braque and Gris in the early 20th-Century. DeSimone relocated to Emilia-Romagna following WWII where he enrolled in the famed Istituto d’Arte per la Ceramica in Florence. It was there he found his life’s calling; pottery became his passion. After completing his studies, he and his family returned to Sicily. Nostalgic for his native land now seen through adult eyes, Giovanni finally felt at home. The DeSimone ceramics studio began in the 1960s and produced both dinnerware and serving pieces as well as decorative tiles and larger panels. Giovanni would typically sign his work “DeSimone” in a location that would be visible without having to turn the piece over. He also had several artisans that worked for him in the studio.

DeSimone passed away in 1991, but his legacy continues though his daughters Susanna and Margherita, who operate La Fabbrica della Ceramica, still located in Palermo, Sicily. Their work is very much inspired by the creations of their father, and, like his work, each are individually handmade and hand painted. His brightly-coloured pottery is recognised and sought after by collectors, but the honest accessibility of his work draws in new devotees every day.

Dimensions:

H 2.5 cm / 1"

W 28.5 cm / 11.2"

D 28.5 cm / 11.2"