Featured Swan vase s_zeno_pisa

Discussion in 'Pottery, Glass, and Porcelain' started by katiedid, Aug 30, 2018.

  1. katiedid

    katiedid New Member

    I can’t find anything about this marking. Beautiful high gloss dark green swan or goose, 9inches tall, 12wide. I can’t attach picture, file too large. The symbol above mark looks like a Viking sailboat, with 3 oars.
    S_ZENO_PISA
    MADE_IN_ITALY
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Aug 30, 2018
  2. sabre123

    sabre123 Well-Known Member

    There are various methods to reduce file sizes. One of which, you can go to the following link, upload, compress, and download to your computer or device:

    http://www.imageoptimizer.net/Pages/Home.aspx

    I just used my iPhone as a test, and when I downloaded, it displayed in a Safari browser page. If I long hold on it, a menu appears where I can save it to my photo library.
     
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  3. Walter Del Pellegrino

    Walter Del Pellegrino Well-Known Member

    A photo of the piece itself would go a long way in confirming my suspicion as to the origin of the vase. This may be the mark of the Terrecotte Artistiche di San Zeno (Terra Cotta Artists of San Zeno). The company was located in the San Zeno neighborhood of Pisa. This was a rather unique venture created by women for women artists. It was established by Laura Ruschi in 1926 in order to help women gain a sense of independence and give women a chance to work outside the home. The company closed its door in 1940.
    All the examples I have ever seen included the words San Zeno on the base along with figure of a Renaissance Sailing Ship typical of the type found in the harbor of Pisa during the Medieval and Renaissance periods. The pottery of San Zeno was inspired by medieval examples of plates, bowls and tableware made in in the area at the time.
    Walter Del Pellegrino
     
  4. sabre123

    sabre123 Well-Known Member

    Nice, Walter!
     
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  5. katiedid

    katiedid New Member

    Thanks for the info, it worked!
     
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  6. katiedid

    katiedid New Member

    Thanks Walter, I posted pictures, hope it did come from Laura Ruschi company, I would treasure it more.
     
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  7. moreotherstuff

    moreotherstuff Izorizent

    zzz.jpeg

    zzza.jpg

    Seems to me the mark fits Walter's description.
     
    Bronwen, katiedid, sabre123 and 2 others like this.
  8. Walter Del Pellegrino

    Walter Del Pellegrino Well-Known Member

    It was indeed made in the studio of Terracotte Artistiche di San Zeno.
    Laura Ruschi was born in Pisa in 1879 and died there in 1965. She was the seventh of twelve children born to Julius Ruschi and Adele Fabbri-Ruschi. They were a substantially well-off family with considerable holdings that included a palace in the Piazza D'Ancona in Pisa and large farm in the countryside. One sister, Virginia married an English Lord (Oscar Tobler) and another married a lawyer, Bonucci Lannotti. Laura's mother died in 1899 and her father died in 1905. Laura remained in the family home with her sister, Clara.
    We know little of Laura's formal education but supposedly she had an affinity for business and an understanding and talent for artistic design. In 1903, two years before the death of Laura's father she became involved with the Italian Feminine Industries Committee (Comitato Industrie Femminili Italiane), which was founded in Pisa by Madame Benzoni Teresa Martini, at the urging of the Countess de Brazza Savorgnan, chairman of the Committee of Rome. Thus, in 1926 the "Terracotta Artists of of San Zeno" (Terracotte Artistiche di San Zeno) was born. Laura took on a partner, Margaret Bassolina, who became the company's artistic director and together they hired Giotto Fagiolini who taught the art of ceramics decoration to classes of women (no men).
    Laura left the factory in 1936 to involve herself with other ventures. In 1940 the company was having financial troubles and closed its doors.
     
    dgbjwc, George Nesmith, judy and 6 others like this.
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