ISTORIATO

11" x 11" Round shaped, case bound concertina, with printed navy Iris cloth on both the book covers and lidded clamshell box. n.p. Limited to an edition of 50 signed and numbered copies. Istoriato is an Italian narrative style of pottery decoration which uses the pottery body solely as support for a purely pictorial effect. Originating about 1500 in Faenza, Italy, paintings comparable in seriousness to Italian Renaissance easel paintings were applied to Maiolica ware. The subjects, biblical, historical, and mythological scenes, are executed with a realism (including the use of perspective) quite unlike any previous pottery decoration. Although violating aesthetic rules in their subordination of shape to decoration, such wares remain works of great skill, as well as beauty. During her Sally R. Bishop residency at the Center, Mare Blocker explored how the design of this pottery changed with the invention of the printing press. Multiple color linoeleum blocks and type were printed on Magnani Pescia. Produced at the Center for Book Arts, each boxed set also includes a unique plate decorated in the style of Maiolica pottery. Round shaped, case bound concertina, with printed navy Iris cloth on both the book covers and lidded clamshell box.…