Filippo Gozzi (naples, Late 19th Century) : “three Santons”

Filippo Gozzi (Naples, late 19th century): “Three santons in need of restoration,” polychrom terracotta, heights 33, 29, 34 cm.
Damage and missing parts.
- “Pipe Smoker”: casually leaning against a fish basket,he smokes his pipe with good-natured ease. Wear and tear; left big toe missing; base reattached upside down.
- “Spaghetti Eater”: seated on a sort of mantelpiece, he is eating a serving of pasta with both hands. Wear and tear, missing base, left armbroken and poorly reattached.
- “The Snack Eater”: with a jug under his arm, he greedily eats bread and cold cuts. Signs of wear; coat is broken and poorly glued back together.
If you have the chance to visit Naples, be sure to check out the Certosa San Martino: in addition to its hilltop location offering a panoramic view of the bay, it houses several museums, including the Nativity Scene Museum.
Since the Christmas nativity scene has been one of Naples’ most important traditions (along with soccer!) since the 18th century, many workshops competed creativelyto design new figures that would enrich the previous year’s nativity scene each year…
Despite their condition, these three figures are of such high quality in terms ofsculpting and polychromy that I didn’t hesitate to purchase them: look at the patched clothing, the facial expressions, and the natural poses.
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