Vintage Italian Ceramic Tea / Coffee Set by Guido Gambone (circa 1950s)

Mid-Century Italian ceramic tea / coffee set by Guido Gambone (circa 1950s). A full set of six cups and saucers, a creamer and sugar bowl all in Gambone's inimitable style. The set is hand-painted with geometric shapes in brown over a lively powder blue. Some pieces are deliberately more intense in colour than others adding variety and interest to the whole. They are in good overall condition. The pieces are signed on the underside: 'Gambone Italy' alongside his trademark stylised donkey maker's mark. Please enjoy the many photos accompanying the listing. Upon request a video may be provided. For information, this gallery has many ceramic pieces by Guido Gambone you may want to peruse on this platform. Not only are they intensely creative works of art with a rich history, they also have been consistently increasing in value over the years. 

About the Artist: Guido Gambone (1909–1969) is one of the most prominent Italian ceramicists of the 20^th century. Gambone defined a unique style in which he fused traditional ceramic methods with amorphous forms that echoed equally the art of the past and of this modern day. His dynamic objects, in which he often experimented with glazes and patterns, garnered great popularity and today are treasured holdings in private and museum collections such as the Brooklyn Museum in New York.

Born in Montella in the southern Italian region of Campania, Gambone received his earliest training in the art of ceramics at the Manifattura Artistica Ceramica Salernitana in nearby Vietri sul Mare. He continued his studies at the Industria Ceramica Salernitana (I.C.S.) and eventually took over as director of the facility in 1935. The following year, he moved northward to Florence with fellow ceramicists Vincenzo Procida and Francesco Solimene to assist in the production of the Cantagalli ceramics company, which derived its name from founder Ulisse Cantagalli (1839–1901) and specialised in reviving the rich colours and patterns of the Maiolica tradition.

1950 marked the showcase of one of Gambone’s collaborative works at a group exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum in New York, and the following year Gambone enjoyed his first solo showing at the Galleria Il Milione in Milan. By the end of the decade, Gambone had achieved international acclaim for his pieces. He died at the age of 60.

Dimensions of Saucer:

H 1.8 cm / .7"

Dia 16 cm / 6.3"

Dimensions of Cup:

H 7.5 cm / 3"

W 11 cm / 4.3"

D 8.5 cm / 3.3"

Dimensions of Creamer:

H 11 cm / 4.3"

W 11.5 cm / 4.5"

D 9.5 cm / 3.7"

Dimensions of Sugar Bowl:

H 10.5 cm / 4.1"

Dia 9.5 cm / 3.7"