A rare and impeccable ceramic vase by Umberto Zannoni, circa 1960s (signed) This stunning stoneware bottle is hand-painted in iridescent purple, silver, and blue tones with black vertical stripes and a geometric key pattern.  Zannoni was a highly celebrated Italian artist known for opening an experimental ceramics laboratory in 1961. Renowned for his contributions to the field of ceramics, Zannoni's work is represented in major collections including the Vatican Museums in Rome and the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto.

UMBERTO ZANNONI (1926-2012) was born in Faenza on 5 October 1926, he graduated from the local Art Institute, a pupil of Anselmo Bucci and Domenico Rambelli in 1945.  Subsequently, he taught for a short period at the Institute of Art for Ceramics in Sesto Fiorentino, and afterward, he was called to cover the position of artistic director in the "Veccia Lodi" factory In 1950, together with Carlo Zauli, Aveerado Giovanni, and Renato Zama he took over the artistic ceramics laboratory "Studio Ceramico Morelli" formerly owned by Mario Morelli, in Via Della Croce 6 in Faenza and founded the ceramic factory "Cà 'Pirota."  A few years later, in 1954, after leaving the company, he founded his own laboratory in Borgo Durbecco in Faenza where, in addition to the works he himself conceived, he created, with the collaboration of Goffredo Gazzoti, some works designed by Angelo Biancini.  In 1951 he participated with some works in the Faenza Competition, obtaining the first prize. Also in Faenza in 1955 he obtained the Gaetano Ballardini prize.  In 1956 his work was exhibited in a personal exhibition of ceramics at the Galleria Fontanella Borghese in Rome.  Between 1956 and 1959 he taught decoration at the Art Institute of Faenza and from 1964 he was director of the State Art Institute of Reggio Emilia.  In 1964, Uberto Zannoni left his career as a ceramist to devote himself only to teaching.
He died in 2012.

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