Ulysses Cantagalli, is recognised today as a major 19th century Italian potter, although we do not hear of him untill 1878. His original works are displayed in many private and important public museum collections including the Bargello in Florence and the Victoria & Albert in London.
Ulysses Cantagalli, is recognised today as a major 19th century Italian potter. Hardly anything is known about him prior to 1878 when he is recorded as taking over the family factory in Florence. Florence, of course, was the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance and Cantagalli's early products reflect this Renaissance artistic style. The style, at the time, was in great demand, especially in England and English speaking countries in general.
An outstanding contribution to Cantagalli’s international success was his friendship with William de Morgan, Britain’s most talented and admired pottery and tile designer of the day. de Morgan had captured the mood of the times and this, without doubt, was of greatest benefit to Cantagalli.
de Morgan greatly admired Cantagalli's art and introduced him to many influential collectors in England and the US. He encouraged him to participate in international exhibitions and in a short time Cantagalli’s works became highly regarded with his work still popular as collector’s items.
The Antique & Vintage Table Lamp Co describe a Cantagalli table lamp from their current web site collection.
A very decorative, 19th century, Italian majolica lamp from the Florentine workshop of Ulysses Cantagalli.
The urn shaped lamp in Italian renaissance style, with a dome shaped cover, the cover with a minaret finial. The urn on a circular base and socle, standing on a square shaped base. The lamp beautifully decorated in monochrome, pastel blue enamel. The urn cover, rim and base with a lambrequin border. The principal subject, a renaissance scholar with his dog. The urn sides with moulded, lion head ring grips. The figure subject deftly drawn in a very free flowing manner.
The lamp on a square, custom made base, lacquered in Royal Blue. Of note, due to the ceramic firing technology of the day, the urn had slightly “sagged” in the kiln, hence the irregular angle of the majolica square base.
Circa 1880 Overall height (including shade) 23"/58.5cm
Cantagalli devoted his artistic energy to the understanding of the techniques and the designs of the old masters from Gubbio, Deruta, Urbino and other important Italian ceramic centers. He was fascinated by the Italian pottery made during the Renaissance, and he uncovered a natural talent which made it easy for him to revive the old decorative techniques. Further, Cantagalli was also a very intuitive businessman and he knew that Renaissance style pottery was very popular at the time.
Ulysses Cantagalli was an outstanding ceramicist, whose original works are displayed in many private and important public museum collections including the Bargello in Florence, the Museo Stibbert also in Florence and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.
After a long and successful life, Cantagalli died in 1901. His wife and daughter continued to operate the factory in Florence until 1934 when the factory was sold to the former artistic director, Amerigo Menegatti. The factory struggled through Italy's disastrous involvement with the Second World War, finally closing in 1985.
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