Featured Majolica Fish Tureen

At the auction today I bought two boxes of ceramics that included this very fine majolica fish tureen.

All the other pieces in the box were early to mid twentieth century.

The ladle was in a different box to the fish but I assume it belongs with it.

The piece looks very much like Bordallo Pinheiro tureens but they are usually clearly marked whilst the glaze has blurred virtually all the detail of what could be the impressed frog in a circle on this. I know that fake marks often look blurred like this but the quality is such to make me think it may be genuine.

I read that pre WWII the factory Mark was impressed.




Any thoughts?

John

 

There are a couple of red ones on here, but they basically just say Portugal:
https://www.worthpoint.com/inventor...&max=100&query=majolica+fish+tureen&category=

 

John, the ladle handle features a craca in Portuguese or a percebe in Spanish. Tureen doesn't look Spanish to my eye (although I may be wrong.) I'd think Portugal.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goose_barnacle

Debora

 

Think you're right about Bordello Pinheiro. This is a recent tureen and it appears to be the same mold.

https://us.bordallopinheiro.com/peixes-tureen-47l-prd-pt

Debora

 

Thanks That will mean it's definitely. the right ladle.

I found this one just now. I think it's a severe case of wishful thinking

https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/d...huge-fish-tureen-portugal-1950s/id-f_8894613/

 

Thanks Debora.

I will have to sell is as date unknown as the factory seems to have made similar items over the years.

 

You know, John, there's a museum in Lisbon dedicated to Bordallo Pinheiro's work. It costs nothing to ask...

https://museubordalopinheiro.pt/en/the-collection/ceramics/

Debora

 

Thanks Debora

I didn’t know but I will certainly ask

thanks

John

 

And here's another place to ask. Ceramics Museum in Caldas da Rainha.

http://museudaceramica.blogspot.com

Debora

 

Thanks again Debora. Here is their response.
Following the request for information, concerning a fish-shaped terrine, we came to inform you that it appears to be a recent piece, as indicated by the painting and glaze. The brand, very faded, clearly refers to the production of Fabrica Bordallo Pinheiro.



Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro executed terrines in the shape of fish, and his model has been reproduced throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, with minor changes, by the Bordallo Pinheiro Factory, as you can see at https://pt.bordallopinheiro.com / fish-terrine-high-33l-prd-en. For more information, I advise you to contact the factory directly.

 

Well, how terrific to know! (And how kind of the museum to respond to your query.) So... modern. That makes sense, given it matches the mold of tureen currently on offer on brand's web site. Handsome regardless of age.

Debora

 

Yes they were good. I wrote in Portuguese and they responded in Portuguese - I find that using the person you are asking’s language always helps

 

Of course. It's a courtesy. But English is so widely spoken in Portugal and at such a proficient level.

Debora