Capodimonte porcelain

The Capodimonte porcelain manufactory was established in Naples in 1743, in direct emulation of the porcelain being produced at Meissen. Capodimonte is famous for is moulded figurines and its decorative modelled flowers applied to cups and vases.

History

The manufactory was founded in 1743 when the Spanish king Charles and his wife Queen Maria Amalia of Saxony [She was the granddaughter of Augustus II, Elector of Saxony who founded the first European hard paste porcelain factory in Meissen, Germany.] instituted the Royal Factory of Capodimonte adjacent to the royal palace of Capodimonte, Naples, the recently-completed summer residence. During this period the chemist Livio Ottavio Schepers improved the composition of the soft paste porcelain body and above all the sculptor Giuseppe Gricci and the decorator Casella contributed to the creation of important works of art, chief among which is the famous boudoir of Queen Maria Amalia entirely panelled in porcelain, from the walls to the lamp.

With this factory they gave birth to one of the most famous Italian forms of art. The King collected all the masterpieces in the well known Museum of Capodimonte. After King Charles, his son King Ferdinand IV continued the production of this particular decorative porcelain with the Real Fabrica Ferdinandea, which under the direction of the artist Domenico Venuti underwent its greatest period, during which there was a great production of vases and plates used to enrich the King's table. Many of these dinner services are now in the Capodimonte Museum.

During the Napoleonic period Murat was much more interested in investing money for the napoleonic wars. This period representa a period of change in the production of objects in porcelain. The important royal table set didn't interest the French king and for this reason these objects were substituted by the creation of decoratives objects made of flowers more suitable for the middle class. This is the true birth of that recognizable style called "Capodimonte". Capodimonte porcelain is finally identified with cups, vases and objects with flowers, all made and decorated by the hands of experienced Neapolitan artists that gave birth to the first artisan factories.

The tradition until modern times

The Porcelain of Capodimonte was handed on for many years thanks to the creativity of the Neapolitan artists. In fact during the second half of the nineteenth the first handicraft factories were born. They all were at family management. In 1867 Alfonso Majello, knighted "Cavaliere del Lavoro" , founded the Majello factory. Today after four generations the sculptor Lucio Majello and his sons still contribute to the continuity of one of the most famous Italian forms of art well known all over the world thanks to the masterpieces collected in the National Museum of Capodimonte in Naples, Italy, that still fascinate people who love art and also thanks to a very active production of items in porcelain of Capodimonte that represent the typical italian souvenir for the worldwide tourists. Tourists from all over the world are fascinated by these little flower objects in porcelain of Capodimonte, which together with the Murano glass from Venice represent Italian modern art in the world.

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