Small Ceramica Arcore stoneware lidded box, 1960s. Matte grey with blue band, glossy red interior. Signed CA.
Specifications:
- Designer: Nanni Valentini, Marco & Tina Terenzi
- Manufacturer: Ceramica Arcore
- Country/Period: Italy, 1970s
- Materials: Stoneware; matte grey glaze with pale-blue circular band; glossy red interior glaze
- Conditions: good vintage conditions: patina to the grey finish and minor wear at the rim.
- Dimensions: (H x D): 6 x 10,7 cm
- Price: €200
- Shipping: Contact us for a quote
Produced by Ceramica Arcore— the Lombardy studio associated with sculptor Nanni Valentini and run by Marco and Tina Terenzi—this small lidded box exemplifies the studio’s refined mid-century stoneware. The restrained, functional forms developed at Arcore became touchstones of Italian postwar ceramics, valued by collectors for their material intelligence and quiet presence.
The piece is a flattened spherical box with a precisely fitting lid, its exterior finished in a tactile matte grey with a soft blue circular band that articulates the profile. Inside, a glossy red glaze provides a striking chromatic contrast. The low proportion and softly rounded silhouette give it an elegant, understated character suitable for desk or bedside use.
High-fired stoneware (grès) was a hallmark of Arcore’s production, favoring durable bodies and subtle glazes. This example bears the “CA” signature to the base. Condition shows natural patina and minor wear at the rim consistent with age; no visible restorations.
Compact, useful, and emblematic of the studio’s language, this box is an accessible entry into Ceramica Arcore’s collectible output and a thoughtful accent within any Italian design context. A remarkable example of Italian design merging functional intelligence and aesthetic refinement.
See our other Ceramica Arcore pieces and related Valentini works in our inventory.
