Rosetti, Turin – Maiolica ‘Rocaille figuré’ plate – Italy, mid 18th century

An 18th century Italian maiolica plate, attributed to the Rossetti manufactory in Turin. The plate is shaped with a finely moulded, floral-form rim in the Rocaille taste, framing a central scene painted with figures set within a landscape enriched with Rocaille elements. The decoration is executed with a lively hand, combining soft tonalities with delicate detailing, characteristic of Turin production of the period. The sculptural outline and painterly quality together create an elegant and highly decorative object, representative of the refinement found in Italian maiolica of the 18th century.

The Rossetti manufactory was founded in Turin in 1725 by Giorgio Giacinto Rossetti under royal patronage, receiving official privileges for the production of maiolica. It quickly became one of the leading ceramic workshops in Piedmont, contributing significantly to the development of Turin faience in the eighteenth century. The factory later expanded into porcelain production from 1737, making it among the earliest porcelain manufactories in Italy, while continuing its refined maiolica output distinguished by its decorative sophistication and technical ambition.

Diameter: 23 cm.

Condition: with a chipped area of glaze loss in the well (see pictures), and minor wear consistent with age.