{"product_id":"capodimonte-figure-school-girl-signed-bruno-merli","title":"Capodimonte figure School Girl | signed Bruno Merli","description":"\u003cp\u003eCapodimonte Italy\u003cbr\u003eSchool Girl figure\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003esigned Bruno Merli\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExquisite fine detail in the faces, eyes and fingers\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eApprox 20cms (8\") tall\u003cbr\u003eApprox 10cms (4\") wide\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn excellent condition \u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThere is no obvious damage, but with this type of extremely extravagant modelling, there is always fine point edges to the piece [which shouldn't be confused with \"damage\"]\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout Bruno Merli\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBruno Merli, distinguished Italian sculptor, immersed himself in the venerable ceramic heritage of Capodimonte near Naples, the epicenter of his artistic endeavors. Emerging from Italy's rich tradition of porcelain craftsmanship, he refined his mastery of sculptural form within this historic milieu, channeling the technical precision and narrative depth inherent to the region's workshops.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn the postwar decades, Merli aligned his practice with Italy's cultural revival, as the nation rebuilt amid the economic boom of the 1950s and 1960s. This period saw a renewed appreciation for artisanal traditions like Capodimonte porcelain, which Merli advanced through his designs, bridging prewar techniques with contemporary production.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMerli drew formative guidance from Milanese sculptor Cacciapuoti, under whom he studied during the 1930s, absorbing classical modeling methods that informed his porcelain oeuvre. This mentorship steered his shift toward intricate figurines, elevating his command of realistic anatomy and gesture within the Capodimonte idiom.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMerli's professional trajectory crystallized in the 1960s, when he commenced designing for Capodimonte manufactories, launching signature series that blended historical vignettes with everyday Neapolitan life. Pivotal commissions from factories like King's Porcellane marked his ascent, solidifying his role as a porcelain innovator through serialized yet hand-finished editions.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMerli's oeuvre centers on luminous Capodimonte porcelain, favoring glazed white bisque for hyper-realistic figurines that evoke motion and emotion. Recurring motifs encompass mischievous street urchins, Napoleonic soldiers, and equestrian scenes, rendered with meticulous detailing in faces, fabrics, and postures\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Capodimonte","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49863075135716,"sku":"RA-0014160_A","price":90.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9528\/7908\/files\/merli_girl_1a.jpg?v=1789453210","url":"https:\/\/roundaboutantiques.com.au\/products\/capodimonte-figure-school-girl-signed-bruno-merli","provider":"Roundabout Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}