Featured Dragon Fish Vase? Chinese Italian?

Can anyone identify and/or appraise this. The decoration looks like the style of some italian pottery but with the dragon style fish and chinese character mark im not so sure. Any thoughts welcome

 

It is an old European way to depict a dolphin.

 

Yes, a dolphin.

Debora

 

Dolphins were thought of as sea serpents, which is why the old stylised ones look like that.

That mark is a very badly written Italy. It's a copy of a nice old fountain.

 

It is missing its tail fin.

 

The painted figures are Renaissance grotesques. The missing tail, of course, effects value.

Debora

 

The style is that of Cantagalli, and their style has been copied throughout the 20th century by various makers in Italy (and France). The mark is possibly intended to look a bit like the Cantagalli mark (a cockerel).

Prior to Cantagalli using these forms they were used on pottery from Urbino and Deruta, known as Raphaelli grotteschi (Raphael grotesques) with some examples going right back to the 16th century, almost contemporary with Raphael and the renaissance.

 

very strong....nice work...great colors.....broken tail..value plummets ..

 

Nice piece

 

Was surprised no one else mentioned this. Pretty good looking thing! Pity about the tail!

 

Many thanks