1Identify

Preliminary identification

Della Robbia Style Glazed Terracotta Angel Relief

Photo reference

1 uploaded photo

Overview

A high-relief ceramic plaque featuring a praying angel in profile, executed in the iconic white and cobalt blue tin-glaze style of the Italian Renaissance.

Story

In the 1440s, a sculptor named Luca della Robbia cracked a secret code: he developed a tin-based glaze that made terracotta sculpture as durable as stone and as luminous as pearls.

Maker / Origin

While the original technique was a Della Robbia family secret, 19th-century masters like Ulisse Cantagalli revived the tradition in Florence.

Condition & Value

The plaque shows age-appropriate surface grime in the recessed areas and fine crazing throughout the glaze. Value for these revival pieces is driven by the quality of the modeling and the condition of the high-relief points.

Research

Add anything that could sharpen the brief.

Improve the quality of research by sharing any corrections, provenance, details, marks, dimensions, or any other element that could shed light on the piece.

Add any photos or details that could shed light on the piece.

Identify another item