RARE CAPODIMONTE BENACCHIO “IL DOTTORE – DOTTORE BALAZONE – THE MASK OF BOLOGNA\" for Sale

On eBay Now...

RARE CAPODIMONTE BENACCHIO “IL DOTTORE – DOTTORE BALAZONE – THE MASK OF BOLOGNA\" For Sale

$RARE CAPODIMONTE BENACCHIO “IL DOTTORE – DOTTORE BALAZONE – THE MASK OF BOLOGNA\$
When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

RARE CAPODIMONTE BENACCHIO “IL DOTTORE – DOTTORE BALAZONE – THE MASK OF BOLOGNA\":
$96.98

RareFigurine by

LuigiGiorgio Benacchio

“ildottore – dottore balazone – mask of bologna”

(fromcommedia dell’arTE)

ModelNº14

Signedby the Artist

The Artist and the Company:

In 1953, Luigi Giorgio Benacchio, along withtwo other friends, opened a factory in Bassano del Grappa in the Veneto region of Italy(just north of Venice in northeast Italy). The company was dubbed “Triade” after thebasic elements which produce fine porcelain, earth, fire, and water – and alsohappen to comprise the basic elements of life.

1n 1986, with Benacchio and one other retiringdue to health reasons, the remaining original partner, Basso, maintainedcontrol and the name of the company was changed to “Porcellane Nuova Triade diBasso Sergio Antonio”. In 1997, the lastof the founding friends, retired. Today,the two sons of Basso own and operate the factory in the original location inBassano del Grappa. They still produceexquisite works of art maintaining the fine reputation of the three founders ofthe original company.

The Art:

Luigi Giorgio Benacchio was a prolificartist. He produced more original worksthan the other two put together. Hispassion, and therefore, the greatest majority of his works, ran more towardsthe romantic figures of the 18th and 19th centuries. He specialized in children and in loversplacing them in the time period of the late 1700’s through the middle 1800’s.

This piece is unique in that it deals with Italian streettheater – namely “Commedia dell’Arte” – which originated in Venice around the 1300’s. By the 1500’s, itwas by far the most popular form of street entertainment. This was an “improvised”performance and usually featured four central figures, four oldergentlemen. In reality, the only partthat was improvised was if the actor “over acted” or threw in some twist notthought out beforehand. The lines were tossed between these four gentlemen witha pace reminiscent of a tennis match and the audience loved it! This type of street entertainment is creditedfor changing the standards of acting forever and introduced the professionalactor into Europe.

The figurine on offer today is of DoctorBalazone, or popularly known as “Il Dottore”.He is NOT a medical doctor, and it is questionable if he is really adoctor of anything although he comes across as the resident “know it all”. Heloves to give long lectures in fake Latin and drones on and on and on. Hesupposedly knows a LOT about EVERYTHING but bythe end of the play, he is shown to know NOTHING about ANYTHING! In fact, hewill lecture for so long, he is often removed from the stage physically whilestill talking!

The one thing he IS expert in would bemisquoting just about everything. He is able to fool the fool and can becounted on to give the wrong advice. Onewriter said you can be sure to do the right thing as long as you do theopposite of what Il Dottore suggests!

The Artwork Condition:

This figurine is in pristine, mintcondition. When I say “pristine” and“mint”, I mean, there is no crazing of the bisque. There are no hairline cracks. There are nochips. There is no damage to the piecewhatsoever. The paint is as vibrant asthe day it was fired in the ovens in Bassano del Grappa. The quality of the work is in keeping withall other known works by the artist.

The piece is signed, as is usual with anyBenacchio work, and in the same style on the top of the base behind the shieldof liberty. The Triade logo is on theunderside of the base, with the model number “14” incised in the bisque.

Height:2”

Height:7” (from top of base to top ofhat)

TotalHeight: 9” (from bottom of base to topof hat)

Payment must be received within 3 days of theend of the listing. Payment by PayPal foryour protection.

Item will be carefully packed. Please be careful in unwrapping theitem. Because it is so delicate a piece,no international offerding/shipping for this piece.