Zoomorphic Pitcher by Guido Gambone

“Zoomorphic Pitcher” by Guido Gambone (1909–1969), Italy, late 1940s.

Important glazed ceramic zoomorphic pitcher, modelled as a stylised bird. Its generous rounded body is extended by a long beak forming the spout, with small wings and a raised tail completing the sculptural silhouette.

The surface displays a remarkable polychromy dominated by deep blue and turquoise tones, contrasting with the soft pinkish-white upper section. Graphic brown lines, concentric motifs and touches of blue articulate the plumage and features of the animal. The variations and layering of the glazes create a particularly vibrant surface, characteristic of Gambone’s exploration of colour and texture.

The underside bears Guido Gambone’s early signature together with his emblematic donkey mark, used in the late 1940s, before his move to Florence.

The piece therefore belongs to Gambone’s early production and already displays the highly individual visual language that would establish him as one of the leading figures of post-war Italian ceramics.