G. Vaccaro - 1793-1889 - Sicilian Terracotta, 19th Century – Old Peasant Woman, Caltagirone

19th century Sicilian terracotta, Caltagirone school, signed G. Vaccaro, in keeping with the tradition of Italian popular realism of Gemito and D’Orsi.
Made of hollow terracotta, the old woman is portrayed with great realism, barefoot, dressed in rags, holding a gourd and a bouquet of sunflowers. This sensitive and expressive realism evokes the harshness of rural life and the quiet dignity of the peasantry, a central theme in 19th-century Sicilian sculpture.

The sculpture is very carefully modeled, with numerous hand-finishing touches visible after molding: the folds of the garment, the finely detailed bouquet of flowers, the arms and hands folded across the torso, and the ground, clearly shaped by hand.

The work is signed “G. Vaccaro,” the signature incised with a stylus in italics on the base (not in relief), indicating direct intervention in the still-fresh clay, a typical practice for consistent, high-quality studio castings.
The patina is old, nuanced, and natural, with slight soiling.

Very good overall condition, without any restoration. The only missing piece is the very short original cord (approx. 1 cm) that held the gourd.

Height: 24.5 cm.

G. Vaccaro was a sculptor active in 19th-century Sicily, associated with the Caltagirone tradition, a major center for the production of artistic terracotta. The Caltagirone workshops were renowned for their popular and naturalistic figures, distributed in limited numbers in Italy and abroad.
Vaccaro developed a body of work marked by humanist themes: peasants, old people, and humble figures of everyday life, treated with a realistic and empathetic eye.
His workshop practiced a structured artisanal production, combining the use of molds for general forms with meticulous hand-finishing, guaranteeing each piece its individuality and high quality of execution.