Capodimonte "N" Crown Pottery Mark - Giuseppe Armani, Florence Sculture d'Arte Studio Backstamp Query

by Richard
(UK)

Capodimonte "N" Crown Pottery Mark - Giuseppe Armani, Florence Sculture d'Arte Studio Backstamp Query:- Hello, Can you help identify this piece and its value, it is to be donated to Salvation Army. Blue crown over N on back G A initials on front.

Thank you for your effort and time.

Richard

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Reply from Peter (admin) below - just scroll down

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Reply by Peter (admin)

To:- Capodimonte "N" Crown Pottery Mark - Giuseppe Armani, Florence Sculture d'Arte Studio Backstamp Query

Hi Richard

The "N" crown pottery mark is that of any maker who wishes to be associated with the mark of Capodimonte.

There is no trade mark restriction, so quality of make varies.

In the case of the modern factory of Florence Sculture d'Arte and the artist Giuseppe Armani, they make beautifully sculpted and decorated pieces in the romantic cutesy European porcelain style, but it must be remembered that these items are resin not porcelain. The resin reproduction gives the ability for fabulous sculpting detailing to be kept intact - a much more difficult feat in real porcelain.

Apart from the Armani Studio of Florence, I have compiled a list of artist signatures that feature in the marketing of the various Italian post war studios which sell figurines and figural groups under the general style of Capodimonte.

This list might help people who are trying to read a scribbled or illegible signature. Only very few of the artists listed below have any kind of biography or information online.

So information is sketchy at best. I did find a bio on Giuseppe Armani, which was a relief because at one point I was convinced he was a figment of the marketing men's imagination.

Some of the artists below might either be figments of a branding executives imagination, or indeed be a 'moonlighting name'. I have known modeller colleagues have at least two alternative names so that they can 'moonlight' between one company to another and therefore get around their contractual 'retainers'. Of course I would never have dreamt of doing this myself.

List of Capodimonte signatures I have on record (in alphabetical order)

Maria Angela
Giuseppe Armani
Enzo Arzenton
Autunno
Bassano
Auro Belcari
Beliori
Belliore
Luigi Giorgio Benacchio
A. Benni
Dino Bonalberti
Antonio Borsato
W. Cabrelli
A. Calle
Guiseppe Cappe
Luciano Cazzola
Cedraschi
Corbese
Germano Cortese
Guido Cortese
A. Giaretta
R Guidolin
J. Laurent
Sandro Maggioni (looks like Maggioui)
Marcolini
Gianni Merlo
Bruno Merli
M. Moretto
M. Mozetto
De Palma
Giorgio Pellate (Pelatti)
Pucci
Redaelli
Rori
Sadarine
Sartori
Carlo Savastano
Walter Scapinello
Segimella
Vittorio Tessaro
Tiziano Galli
Alessandro Tosca
Venere (Collezione Venere Porcellane D'arte - associated with W. Scapinello)
Volta
Vopla

Some of these artists were associated in the post war period with a company called the IPA (Industria Porcellane Artistiche) which was formed from previous company known as Industria Lombardo Porcellane Artistiche (ILPA),

I think it was this company, beginning in the first half of the 20th century which must have been responsible for the mew style of caricature Capodimonte figures we have all become so familiar with where facial expressions and body movements show a lightness of character and humour.

The artists associated with IPA in the post WW2 period are some of those listed above - Giuseppe Cappe, Bruno Merli, Sandro Maggioni, Alessandro Tosca, Giorgio Pellate, Redaelli.

This new style has not really too much to do with the look and feel of the original Napes factory - and is really a 20th Century invention in my view.

The "N" mark of Capodimonte dates from the Royal Manufacturer of Capodimonte in Naples, Italy, which is often reported to have continued until 1806. The history I read made a good case for the Capodimonte Royal Naples factory shutting in 1799 in reality.

In fact, the actual history of this early period is a complex mix of progress and destruction, rebuilding and mixed patronage.

Despite these events, the porcelain production of this original period was some of the finest ever to have come out of Europe, and the factory was subject to turbulent and complex socio-economic influences of the time.

The mark represents the N of Naples, also conveniently representing the initial of the conqueror of this region Napoleon Boneparte. The history of ownership after the French military occupation is too complex to explain here, safe to say that after the superb early period (mainly 1759 to 1780) the N mark did not really apply to one Neapolitan factory or ownership, and therefore was not a protected trade name, as say Meissen in Germany with their various protected marks.

As a result, unlike the Meissen company which was a recognised firm with a recognised history and lineage of ownership and protected trademarking, and which regularly protected it's marks with legal action, the Capo di Monte 'N' mark, became free for anyone and his dog to use.

For a period, it became popular with German (particularly Thuringian) makers to use the N mark for export wares. These wares are often of high quality and are by no means fake.

Other makers, for instance I have seen modern Italian makers do this on their websites, swearing blind they are the one true Capodimonte maker. Importers to the US also make this implication - using the name Capo di monti as if it were a real historic trademarked brand with a history going back to the 18th century.

Please don't be fooled, if I felt like it, I could produce a range of Capodimonte style figurines, put an 'N' mark with a coronet and start talking about the marvellous and rich history.

Capodimonte nowadays is a style not a factory.

Be warned.

This does not mean to say the 20th century figures marketed as Capo di Monte or Capodimonte, or have an N mark, are worthless. There is some nice work, they have a following and are collectible.

It was in the 1920's that the Capodimote porcelain tradition of Naples was rediscovered and marketed.

Figurines in the Armani Collection bear the following identifying marks: Factory designation, Copyright mark, Artist's mark or signature, Capodimonte Crown and "N", Limited Edition figurines are numbered.

Generally, whenever visitors ask me for a valuation, I send them straight to the following page which has been written especially to help you in your search for how to value your porcelain wares or china collection:

www.figurines-sculpture.com/antique-china-values.html

My unique identification & valuation help will allow you to see if the mark is identifiable by experts without you having to pay any money upfront. This service is unique online and is designed to protect my site visitors from wasting their time and money online.

Best regards,

Peter (admin)

p.s. The following page is a 'must see' if you are researching fine china - for value and identification:-

Researching the identity and value of antique and vintage fine china.

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