A rare dated 1920s Italian Lenci ceramic figural jug or bottle vase 'Orco Bottiglia' (Orc bottle), Mario Sturani, 1929 Modelled as a grey-bearded portly figure with wide-brimmed black hat, the open top with lip (s/d), over a blue mantle and black robes, holding a tree branch in one hand (as handle) and a knife in the other, flanked by two relief figures of blonde children, each dressed in blue, one also holding a knife. Inscribed beneath 'Lenci ITALY 22-5-29' and impressed 24, 11.5", (29cm) high, (s/d). Provenance: By repute, imported by entrepreneur and inventor Harry Burrows of Manchester in the 1930s. Bequeathed to the mother of the current owner, and thence by descent. Literature; for a matching figure see: Valerio Terraroli & Enrica Pagella, 'Lenci sculture in ceramica 1927-1937', Allemandi, Torino, 2010, plate 33 and p. 231 (no. 78), where also referenced; Alfonso Panzetta, 'Le ceramiche Lenci, catologo generale dall'archivio storico della manifattura', Allemandi, Torino, 1992, p. 126 (no. 68). Luciano Proverbio, 'Lenci ceramiche da collezione', Tipostampa, Torino, 2001, p. 301 (no. 25). Maria Grazia Gargiulo, 'I racconti della Lenci', Fioranna, 2008, p. 185. Maria Mimita Lamberti, 'Mario Sturani 1906-1978', Allemandi, Torino, 1990, pp. 28-29, 34. Exhibition catalogue; Le ceramiche Lenci; gli artisti, i secesssionisti, catalogo della mostra', Milano 1983, pp. 35, 60.

Chip to lip of hat. Small flake losses to hat brim. Other minor edge losses plus a larger chip between feet of one child.