Featured Italian Faience Wine Jug

I bought this finely hand painted wine jug at auction a few months ago

I believe that it is Italian c1875 and in the Renaissance Revival style.

Despite a clear mark, after three months of trying I have been unable to identify the maker.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance

 

It is a beauty, John.
The other photos full image, so everyone can see:

 

Love it, &, as a right hander, I would get to look at that great drawing of Dionysus when pouring out of it. Did not immediately notice the monk on the other side. So a humorous piece about the powers of wine. Neither name on the bottom looks Italian to me, as I make them out. Did the French ever make work like this?

 

I also think it appears to be French. These are from the book Marques et Signatures de la Faïence Française by Henri Curtil. It isn't exactly the same but very close and I think probably correct and worth investigation I think.

My rudimentary French can't give me the nuance of the description though. Google translation is below.





BLOIS (Loir - et - Cher) A small factory installed in Blois by Besnard and Total (1855 1875) produces earthenware beautiful enough to be cited.

But the manufacturing is mixed, half large fire, half small fire, all covered with a transparent enamel to accentuate the shine and reflections. It is by a succession of firings that these artists arrive at the metallic reflections of a final aspect often quite successful, but these processes are all too "groped" to deserve to make school.

The signature is generally Total in Blois, under a crown and fleur-de-lis.

 

Where are my manners? Welcome to the forum!

 

Brava! Yes, that's it. Lower word is Blois, with an angled & flamboyant 'S' that continues down into a flourish.

 

I have no manners, but welcome anyway.

 

Spellcheck got you: Tortat/Blois

 

Hi John, Lovely pitcher!!! And yes, WELCOME to ANTIQUERS!!!!

 

It actually says Total in the book so don't know what that's about. It was published 1969 so before spellcheck.

 

Right you are. A human proofreader (remember those?) thought that looked right. Text for illustration has it correctly & that's what John's beautiful jug is. Another tour de force by S_I_S.

 

Spot on here.

 

This is a great result. I’ve even got that book but didn’t check it as Bonhams told me it was Italian.

 

Thank you so much for this. Bonhams sent me down the wrong track after I suggested French or German and they said Italian.

 

Never assume Bonhams (or Sotheby's or Christie's) are correct. I know how wrong they can be in the area in which I am knowledgeable; no reason to think they are more reliable in any other. Most of the time they take the consignor's word & consignors aren't reliable either.

 

Yep, I had the same experience.
Labeled something as what they told me. Then had several customers correct me. Checking what my customers said, I found that Bonhams had no idea what they were talking about.

Welcome to the board.
Hope you find us fun and interesting.

 

the important person was Ulysse Besnard.
might be that this Tortat was the mec for terre cuite.

 

New here apologies. How do I delete?