Rare Antique Manifattura di Signa Terracotta Grand Tour Box / Casket
An exceptional, early 20th-century Italian terracotta vanity or writing box “casket” crafted by the legendary Manifattura di Signa workshop near Florence, Italy (circa 1900-1920).
The Manifattura di Signa factory formally showcased and offered this model in their 1912 catalog of artistic reproductions. A version of this exact box with the Medici Crest is preserved in The Metropolitan Museum of Art within the Robert Lehman Collection. This box was cast from a mold of a surviving "scholar's variation" rather than the patron-commissioned Medici version and features a beautifully rendered classical portrait medallion seamlessly flanked by the centaurs instead of a family crest.
This authenticated piece features the factory’s highly celebrated circular stamp crisp and clear on the base. Enclosed within a classical laurel wreath, it reads "MA. NI. FAT. TU. RA. DI. SI. GNA." Pieces from this specific workshop are highly collectible and can be found in elite institution archives, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Design & Iconography
The box is crafted in an exquisite unglazed white-grey clay and finished with the workshop's proprietary, patented patinated wash—giving it the texture, weight, and weathered appearance of an excavated ancient marble sarcophagus.
• The Lid: Features a magnificent high-relief central circular medallion (clipeus) containing the protective, apotropaic head of Medusa with her iconic snake-hair, flanked by two winged flying Erotes (Cupids). The entire perimeter is framed by a formal, repeating classical border of palmettes and anthemia floral scrolls.
• The Frieze/Sides: The front and rear panels display a beautifully detailed mythological procession featuring Centaurs carrying Nymphs across their backs, heavily inspired by Hellenistic marine thiasos reliefs and the myth of Nessus.
• Construction: The box features an expertly press-molded, nested inner lip to securely receive the heavy, flush-fitting lid.
Condition Report
Excellent antique condition overall. The terracotta body remains incredibly sturdy with remarkably crisp detail preserved across the high-relief figures. There are no major cracks or heavy structural restorations. Expected light surface wear, minor microscopic fleabites to the edges, and natural aging to the historic chemical patina consistent with a 100+-year-old estate piece. The interior is unglazed. (Please review all photos carefully as they form part of the condition description).
Care and Handling Instructions
This piece is highly porous antique terracotta. Please clean using only a dry, soft-bristled artist's brush to sweep dust out of the relief grooves. Never expose to water or wet household cleaners, as this will alter the historic factory patina.
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