Large Capodimonte porcelain plate, hand-painted and relief-worked, made in the 1950s

Ø cm 35,5

Capodimonte porcelain is a type of high-quality porcelain with great historical value, closely linked to the city of Naples and the Bourbon dynasty.

The origins of Capodimonte porcelain date back to 1743, when King Charles of Bourbon and his wife Maria Amalia of Saxony founded the Real Fabbrica di Capodimonte inside the eponymous Royal Palace. Their goal was to create a manufactory that could compete with the prestigious European factories of the time, such as Meissen in Germany, where Queen Maria Amalia was originally from. The factory gained fame for its particular blend of kaolin and feldspar, which gave it a warm milky tone, similar to ivory.

The master artisans of Capodimonte specialized in the production of statuettes and figurines, floral decorations, and tableware. 

The historical production of the Real Fabbrica ceased after the court moved to Spain. However, the art and tradition of Capodimonte porcelain have been carried on by various private manufactories in Naples that still produce handcrafted items following the original techniques.