1 / 9
two figurines of a man and a woman standing next to each othertwo figurines of a man and a woman standing next to each othertwo figurines of a man and a woman standing next to each other on a red surfacetwo figurines of a man and a woman standing on a red surfacea statue of a man sitting on top of a pedestala statue of a man sitting on top of a pedestala statue of a man standing on top of a fire hydranttwo bowls that are sitting on a glass tablea clay object that is sitting on a glass table
OSENAT

91 - Bongiovanni VACCARO (1809–1889) Fruit seller and oil merchan…
See original version (French)

Estimate €400 - €600
Sale commission
Description
Bongiovanni VACCARO (1809–1889) Fruit seller and oil merchant Pair of polychrome terracotta figures. Sicily, 19th century H: 32 cm (chips, cracks) Note: Certain Italian towns and cities, particularly in the south of the peninsula, succeeded in creating and developing their own distinctive artistic style, often reflecting an aesthetic approach that met the demands of prominent local families; this is notably the case with the city of Trapani, which specialised in coral work, as well as Caltagirone, a Sicilian town in the province of Catania, which excelled in the art of creating terracotta figures and groups known as presepi, sometimes embellished with polychrome decoration. Initially, the subjects of these presepi—undoubtedly loosely inspired by the famous Neapolitan nativity scenes—were primarily linked to religious representations; however, over the decades, artists such as Giacomo Bongiovanni (1772–1859), Salvatore Moretta and Bongiovanni Vaccaro began to draw their subjects from secular life, focusing on the depiction of the human figure and drawing inspiration from the daily lives of the inhabitants of the Caltagirone area: fishermen, fishmongers, musicians, craftsmen, peasants, mothers…all depicted in a wide variety of poses and expressions and rendered with great realism; see some examples preserved in public or private collections, reproduced in L. Colaleo, E. Giliberti, F. Pasqualino and A. Ragona, *Presepi di Caltagirone, artisti a figurinai nella tradizione calatina*, Palermo, 1994.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
About the sale FURNITURE AND WORKS OF ART
Auction location
Auction time 06/27/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
You may also like