Designer
|
Ernestine Virden Cannon
|
Maker
|
MatteoD’Agostino
|
Marks
|
Painted “Ernestine Salerno Italy” to base
|
Material
|
Glazed earthenware
|
Description
|
Octagonal plate with four small
ramekins glazed in Red Selenium gloss glaze with green glaze to footrings.
|
Condition
|
Very Good
|
Number
|
No number
|
Production Date
|
1960s
|
Width at rim
|
60mm
|
Width at Base
|
35mm
|
Depth
|
30mm
|
Length (with handle)
|
92mm
|
Weight
|
60gm
|
Volume
|
60ml
|
Acquisition
|
Purchase
Waverley Antiques
24th July 2015
|
Rameking Reference Number
|
ERN 001-005
|
This tasting set was made by a small
company called “Ceramiche Ernestine” begun by, Matteo D’Agostino, (1905-1968)
an architect and tile maker who came from a family of ceramic makers and later
his America Designer wife Ernestine Virden Cannon (1904-1969). She made ceramics as a response to the
poverty in Italy caused by the Second-World-War. Matteo had been producing tiles during the Second-World-War.
Ernestine travelled to Salerno in the mid
1940s where she met Matteo at her home in Ravello, a town on the Amafi
coast. They operated as a joint
partnership from 1946/7 until 1969.
They produced tableware and successfully exported to America through
Fisher, Bruce and Co, Market St Philadelphia, importers of china, earthenware
and glassware. Ernestine eventually
produced around 100 different designs.
They began making pottery in the style of
Vietri Ceramics, from another town on the Amalfi coast. Shortly after they started, an adventurous,
and fortuitous decision in 1950 was to employ German Chemical Engineer Horst
Simonis (1923-2002) who developed new pigments, glazes and clays for the
company, including this one, “Red Selenium”.
Horst’s influence on the company cannot be overstated.
They also worked with legendary
Architect, Industrial Designer, Furniture Designer, Artist and Publisher; Gio
Ponti (1891-1979). Their output was
always low volume and is now collectable for those in the know. In 1951 she was awarded the Neiman Marcus
Fashion Award because her “creative designs” had “brought new life to the
ceramics industry of Italy.”
The collaboration of Matteo’s shapes and
Ernestine’s designs, coupled with Horsts' technical expertise produced a product
the style and finish of which is known as mid-century modern and most tasters
produced elsewhere since are of a similar design. The pottery became a centre
for research and development of colours and glazes.
One of their contributions was to remove
asbestos from pottery. Asbestos was mixed with clay as an adhesive and its long
fibres allowed for large vessels with thin walls that made them lighter and
more heat resistant without compromising durability. Their tableware was all
hand-painted. One consideration for
makers of the day was the proliferation of dishwashers in American kitchens.
Their pottery was popular with Europe’s
rich and famous, among them the Belgian Royal family, Jaquiline Kennedy and
many actors and artists. The company
ceased production in 1968 due to the death of both Matteo and Ernestine. Many galleries and museums now have some of
their work on display.