Majolica ‘bacile’ Plate - Cerreto Sannita (attributed), 18th Century

Mid-18th century | Cerreto Sannita or Irpinia area
Bacile plate
Hand-painted tin-glazed majolica, diameter 25.5 cm - H 6.5

Decoration: Small bird on a flowering branch, border with geometric and plant motifs.
Condition: Good condition, usual craquelure of the glaze and small chips on the edge.
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Elegant majolica plate decorated in a lively and immediate style, attributable to the ceramic production of Cerreto Sannita or the Irpinia area in the first half of the 18th century. The central decoration depicts a small colourful bird perched on a flowering branch, accompanied by light vegetal scrolls and stylised brushstrokes forming ribbon-like elements. The rim, made with a yellow lattice pattern interrupted by green and light blue vegetal elements, frames the central scene with balanced taste.
The painting, executed with rapid brushstrokes and bright colours (yellow, copper green, blue and manganese), fully reflects the decorative language of 18th-century Campania ceramics.
The ceramic centre of Cerreto Sannita, in the province of Benevento, was one of the most active in the Kingdom of Naples in the 18th century. After the earthquake of 1688, the town was rebuilt and saw a flourishing of ceramic workshops, specialising mainly in the production of rustic majolica for everyday use. These objects, intended mainly for tableware and home furnishings, were distinguished by their simple but evocative iconography, often inspired by the natural world.
The so-called “bacini” or “bacili” were medium-sized deep or semi-deep dishes, commonly used for collecting water during personal ablutions or for presenting food. The iconography of animals, especially birds, was a symbol of lightness, freedom and domestic harmony, and was often chosen to embellish everyday objects.
Similar examples are preserved in the Ceramics Museum in Cerreto Sannita, where plates and basins with zoomorphic and floral decorations attributable to the same area or workshop are on display. Similar characteristics can be found in the artefacts in the collections of the Duca di Martina Museum in Naples and the Ceramics Museum in Vietri sul Mare, where the mutual influence between the different ceramic schools in Campania is highlighted.

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