Posted 13 years ago
emersonest…
(123 items)
This is a small crock with some wonderful art on the outer part of the piece. There are multiple makers mark on the piece but I am not able to make any of them out. The crock is rather small and measures about 6-7" tall and 4.5" wide. I think it is German but I am not sure. If anyone could help with some information about the maker, style, artwork, value, age, period, etc. Thank you very much for your help and I appreciate it.
The incised mark is Marzi and Remy.
In 1879, Anton Marzi and his brother-in-law, Simon Peter Remy, began operation of Marzi & Remy in the Westerwald town of Höhr (later known as Höhr-Grenzhausen) - (western Germany) the centre of the ceramic industry. It is marked with the logo used by the company between 1879-1964.
Two minds are better than one. This mark is becoming more and more familiar now with mid-century pieces having a moulded version. The same thing but in reverse.
By the way, Emersonestates, does the lid have piercings? Are they holes in the lid or are they just decorative. I'm just wondering about what the crock's function.
The design itself seems to be a version of the "Raffaellesco" majolica from Deruta in Italy.
It seems that Raphael was impressed by wall paintings found in Nero’s Roman villa, the "Domus Aurea Neronis" and used the forms in his own work. "An indicator of the Raffaellesco design is the “dragon”, a mythical creature considered good luck by ancient seagoing merchants."
I believe this is salt glazed Westerwald pottery from Germany. I have several pieces of it myself and recognise the impressed shape on the bottom of the item. For Example:-
http://www.trocadero.com/stores/galeriehafner/items/1048886/item1048886.html
What are the holes in the lids purpose? Is this a cheese crock? Thank you so much.