This column first appeared March 2, 2012
Capodimonte, literally translated, “the top of the hill,” is the name given to the most delicate of all Italian porcelains. Easily recognized by its trade mark high relief flowers and leaves, it is highly sought by collectors of fine porcelains.
The history of Capodimote porcelain can be divided into three sections. The first factory was established in 1743 in Naples under the direction of Charles II of Naples, and operated successfully for 17 years. The factor second factory opened in Madrid, Spain in 1771, where it flourished until 1821 when it permanently closed, ending the production of authentic capodimonte. Some of the molds were bought by the Docceia family, who opened their factory in 1882 and remains in full production today.
Capodimonte produced soft paste porcelains, which are considered to be the most perfect grade of Italian pottery. The subject matter was drawn from nature. Each piece was entirely handcrafted requiring hours of work at the hands of the leading artists of the day. Their highly sought dinnerware and figurines were most always marked with the letter “N” beneath a crown, although a “fleur-de-lies” was occasionally added to the marking.
This beautiful pottery is one of the most highly imitated in the world. Hundreds of factories have copied not only the forms and the high relief floral decor, but they have even reproduced the original marks for use on their wares. In addition to the Docceia factory of Italy, “Compo-Di-Monte” is also mass-produced by several companies in France, Germany and most recently China.
Three groups of collectors have evolved for Capodimonte; those who look for only very rare original pieces, a second group who collect the pieces made by the Docceia family before 1920, and a third group who enjoy acquiring the more modern examples of the “Compo-Di-Monte” style.
Original pieces, if they can be had, are value at thousand of dollars. They are extremely rare and most have found their way into museums or very high end private collections. Examples do occasionally appear at fine art and antique auctions in major US cities. If you have an interest in viewing these pieces the online auction catalogues for Sotheby’s or Christie’s of New York will afford you this rare opportunity.
Compodimonte is as fragile as it is beautiful. The delicate flower and petals chip and shatter very easily, even under the best of conditions. Whenever possible display your collection behind glass to avoid exposure to dust and smoke. If cleaning becomes necessary, gently dip the piece in and out of warm water to remove the dust and then allow to air dry. Until next time . . . Linda
Linda Kennett is a professional liquidation consultant specializing in down-sizing for seniors and may be reached at 317-258-7835 or lkennett@indy.rr.com
