Antique Carlo Manzoni Art Pottery Vase – Della Robbia / Minerva Chelsea, Art Nouveau (1897)

A rare and highly attractive late 19th-century British art pottery vase, attributed to Carlo (Giovanni Carlo Valentino) Manzoni, dating to 1897 and associated with his work at the Minerva Art Pottery, Chelsea, and his documented connection to the Della Robbia Pottery movement.

vThe vase is of elegant Art Nouveau form, with a slender elongated neck rising from a softly rounded bulbous body. It is richly hand-decorated in the characteristic Della Robbia palette of turquoise, emerald green, deep blue and warm ochre, with flowing stylised foliage outlined in manganese slip. The tin-glazed surface displays fine, even craquelure typical of high-quality period art pottery.

The hand-inscribed base mark reads “Manzoni / hand painted / … / D.D. 19”, incorporating a crown-style monogram seen on recorded Manzoni pieces. The numbers are consistent with a shape or pattern reference (64) flanked by the date 1897, placing this work firmly within Manzoni’s Chelsea period.

Carlo Manzoni (1855–1930) trained as a sculptor in Turin before settling in London in 1885. Living in Chelsea, he worked alongside key figures in the British art pottery revival, including Conrad Dressler, and moved between Della Robbia Pottery and his own Minerva Art Pottery. Pieces from this period are increasingly scarce and keenly sought after by collectors of Arts & Crafts and Art Nouveau ceramics.

This example is particularly appealing for its balanced proportions, vibrant glaze work and excellent overall preservation, making it a strong display piece for collectors of British studio pottery or late Victorian decorative arts.

Condition
The vase is in excellent antique condition.
🌿 No chips, cracks or restorations
🌿 One extremely minor rim fleabite, only visible when angled closely to the light
🌿 Glaze colours remain strong and well preserved
🌿 Any pale areas visible in photographs are light reflections only

Overall, a remarkably clean example for a vase of this age.

Measurements
🌿 Height: approx. 19 cm
🌿 Maximum width: approx. 9.5 cm

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