| Main centres: | 1-3 business days |
| Regional areas: | 3-4 business days |
| Remote areas: | 3-5 business days |
The Blank: The "MADE IN ITALY" embossed mark on the base indicates this is an imported earthenware blank. During the 1960s and 70s, high-quality white-glazed ceramics were mass-exported from Italian regions like Umbria to be used by artists worldwide.
The Scene: The painting is an unmistakable depiction of the Bo-Kaap (formerly the Malay Quarter) in Cape Town. The iconic flat-roofed, brightly coloured houses and the distinctive dome and minaret of a local mosque are a dead giveaway.
The Painter: In the mid-20th century, Cape Town-based curio shops often commissioned local illustrators to paint South African landmarks onto high-quality European ceramics. These were sold as premium souvenirs to tourists. While the specific artist is uncredited (as was common for "studio" souvenir work), the execution is a lovely example of mid-century Cape Malay heritage art.
MATERIAL: Glazed Italian earthenware (Ceramic).
STYLE: Hand-painted over-glaze illustration.
DIMENSIONS: 16cm x 11.5cm x 1.5cm.
USE: Ideally sized as a trinket dish or vanity tray. While it could serve as a soap dish, the hand-painted nature suggests its better suited for dry use to preserve the artwork.
GOOD VINTAGE CONDITION. The central illustration remains vibrant with very little fading. There is a fine, age-appropriate "crazing" (tiny spider-web lines in the glaze) visible upon close inspection, which is typical for Italian ceramics of this era and confirms its vintage status. There are no major chips or structural cracks.
