Preliminary identification
Photo reference
3 uploaded photos
Overview
A charming, hand-detailed Italian terracotta figurine depicting a traditional Sicilian peasant woman balancing a woven basket of fruit on her head. The underside features an impressed 'CATANIA' mark and a 'MADE IN ITALY' stamp, alongside a handwritten date of 1963 and the location 'Sausalito'.
Story
In 1963, a traveler likely purchased this vibrant piece of Sicilian folk art in Catania before bringing it home to Sausalito, California. It captures the timeless, sun-drenched spirit of Southern Italian street vendors.
Maker / Origin
While the specific workshop in Catania remains unidentified, the city has been a major hub for Sicilian terracotta craft since antiquity. Local artisans are famous for capturing the expressive, theatrical, and daily life of the Sicilian people in warm red clay.
Condition & Value
The figurine is in excellent vintage condition with no visible chips, cracks, or repairs to the delicate basket or fingers. The unglazed terracotta has a clean, even patina. Excellent condition preserves its full decorative value.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.