Riccio decanter - Seminara - Second half of the XIXth century

This ceramic carafe in the shape of a porcupine or hedgehog was made in the second half of the nineteenth century in Seminara, a small Italian town in the Calabria region, which is located in the extreme south of Italy.

This zoomorphic pitcher has a narrow neck and a handle allowing its transportation, is strikingly modern with its ochre tones and its decoration described as "maïolica schizzata" or splash, a variant of marbled ceramics.
Large size and in very good condition, this object is both utilitarian and decorative.

Seminara is widely known for its production of ceramics characterized by original shapes, garish colors, faces with particular expressions and certain apotropaic functions, intended to repel evil spirits.