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Ugo Zaccagnini vase - $550 (Amherst)
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CASH PLEASE...PICK UP ONLY
Factors Influencing Value:
Period and Mark: The "squiggly Z" mark indicates the vase was made between 1937 and 1958. This period is desirable to collectors because it represents the firm's transition under Urbano's leadership, still honoring Ugo's legacy.
Design and Form: The rounded, lidded form with the textured green finish aligns with the mid-century modern aesthetic popular from the 1940s to 1950s. While not as rare or highly valued as the limited-edition Disney figurines (which can fetch thousands), this style is still collected.
Condition: The overall condition visible in the image appears good, a crucial factor in value. The absence of chips, cracks, or significant wear increases desirability.
Rarity/Uniqueness: While many Zaccagnini pieces were produced, individual designs and sizes can have varying levels of rarity. The uniqueness of this specific green textured glaze and lidded form would contribute to its appeal to collectors.
I have selected three important 20th century Italian ceramics factories to highlight in this forum because their products were exported to the U.S., Canada and Great Britain in large numbers and it is their factory marks which most collectors encounter. These factories are belonged to Egisto Fantechi, Fratelli Fanciullacci and Ugo Zaccagnini. In this essay we will discuss Ugo Zaccagnini.
Ugo Zaccagnini began his career at the Ginori factory in the 19th century and left Ginori in 1891 to open his own studio in Florence. In 1896 Ugo closed his studio and entered into a partnership with six of the most talented artisans and craftsmen in Florence at the time. The new company was named “La Societa Industriale per Fabbricazione della Maioliche Artistiche “ (The Society for Industrial Fabrication of Majolica Art) and was known by the acronym SIFMA. The story of SIFMA can be found in this forum (see the article about the history the Egisto Fantechi factory). In 1905 Ugo left SIFMA to once again open his own ceramics factory in Florence. His five children joined him and the company was named “Manifattura Ugo Zaccagnini e figli” ("Manufacturer Ugo Zaccagnini and Sons"). It should be noted, however, that two of his five children were daughters (Adele and Enrichetta) who also worked in the factory. The logo was the initials of the company - inside a triangle was the letter F atop the letters UMZ.
Ugo had been the master sculptor and model maker during his years at Ginori and SIFMA but at SIFMA the production was confined to recreating traditional the Renaissance style of 15th and 16th century majolica for which Italy was famous. Ugo, on the other hand was enamored of the Art Nouveau movement and saw in its elements an unprecedented freedom of design possibilities. This artistic difference is essentially what caused the break up of SIFMA. So, in his new studio Ugo produced both the standard offerings of the traditional Italian potter and new and surprising artistic creations that caught the attention of the art world. Zaccagnini would eventually become famous for both his Art Nouveau and later his Art Deco figures. While pieces bearing the FUMZ mark can be had for as little as ten dollars his Art Deco figures can rise into the thousands of dollars.
Ugo Zaccagnini past away in 1937 at the age of sixty-nine. In the thirty-one he had spent building his reputation and his factory he garnered worldwide recognition and his company had grown to more that 120 employees
. The firm’s overall management became the responsibility of Ugo’s second eldest son, Urbano (1901-1964). That year the family changed the name of the company to "Società Anonima Ceramiche Zaccagnini" (Ceramic Joint-stock companies Zaccagnini) and created a new company logo – A capital “Z” with a squiggly line through it. This was a tribute to their father and founder of the company. The squiggle represented Monte Oliveto (Mount Olive}.
The covered bowl is 5 1/2 wide and 4" high greenish