Industria Ceramica Salernitana Vases and Vessels

Rare vintage ceramic vase features streamlined cylinder form with slightly flared out rim and graphic decor in off white, teal, black, and yellow palette. The main motif of abstract flowers on a branch, descending from a triangular structure, hand painted in monochromatic black glaze, is juxtaposed with the ombre off white and teal background and an abstracted flock of birds in shades of yellow. The sophisticated Art Deco style flowering branch, with contrasting, clearly defined, angular outline, is softened with rounded, Folk Art or Naive Art style, almost cloud-like bird motifs, asymmetrically placed on one side of the branch. The decor repeats on front and back sides of the vase with slight variations in colors and placements that are consistent with hand-painted nature of the piece. The vase retains obvious hand-formed concentric ridges throughout the whole body that add textural element to the piece and allow for slight pooling of the glazes. The bottom is concave and glazed in off-white, with the unglazed foot, showing pinkish beige clay; it is not a glaze defect, as it was left unglazed intentionally when the vase was placed in the kiln for firing. The vase is signed on the bottom with "Italy I.C.S" and Industria Ceramica Salernitana company's fish mark. It is in good vintage condition with age-appropriate small losses on glaze of the rim and bottom that do not detract from the quality and artistic expression of the vase and can be repaired professionally; please see pictures. I.C.S. was founded in 1927 by Berlin-born Moses Malamerson in Vietri Sul Mar on Amalfi coast in Italy. I.C.S quickly gained recognition by participating in multiple major European and American expositions and art competitions available, attracting many artists that were looking to escape the economic depression and political upheaval of 1930s. I.C.S. can claim the honor of having employed all the famous artists of the German (Tedesco) Period, including Studemann, Irene Kowalski, Hannasch, Richard Dolker...