09/02/2026
This weeks book and art of the week is āSculptural Formā by Marcello Fantoni (1915-2011) and the book Making Marks by Robin Hopper.
Marcel Fantoni was one of the great Italian ceramicists of the 20th century. He was a Tuscan maestro who trained at the Instituto dāArte di Porta Romana.
Through learning from several other masters at the institute he was able to combine design and utility with modern sculpture. In 1936 he founded Manufattura Ceramiche Fantoni, producing unique sculptures.
During the war years he actively joined the Tuscan Resistance movement opposing German occupation and turned his studio into a weapons depot, shelter for escaped prisoners, and meeting place for resistance fighters.
After the war he returned to his studio with gusto, expanded it, and alongside other skilled craftspeople, increased production and created more work including large sculptural vases, and abstract and geometric pieces. He is known for thick slab built ceramics and dramatic textures. He embraced Etruscan styles, along with cubism and brutalism into his own unique style.
We are so fortunate to have one of his pieces in the gallery!
If you would like to see this sculpture or check out the book, stop in and see us.
CFAC hours:
Monday-Thursday: 10am-6pm
Friday and Saturday: 12pm-5pm
Sunday: Closed
