Hand-Painted Porcelain Vase by C.A.B. Florence, 1960s

Hand-painted porcelain vase, made by C.A.B. Firenze in the 1960s

Ø cm 20 Ø cm 8 h cm 13

The C.A.B. Firenze mark (often identified by the full mark “C.A.B. Finissime Porcellane Firenze”) refers to a manufacturer of porcelain and artistic ceramics active in the Florence district.

Most pieces attributed to C.A.B. Firenze date from the postwar period, with production peaking between the 1950s and 1960s. This places it within Florence’s vibrant Mid-Century Modern and classical-romantic production scene. The manufacturer specialized in producing figurative statuettes, often depicting animals (especially swans, herons, doves, and birds), human figures, or romantic scenes. Decorative home accessories included lidded vases, jewelry boxes, and other ornamental objects.

They used a high-quality porcelain paste. A distinctive feature is the abundant use of hand-painted fine gold details (usually 24-karat) to finish rims, feathers, and other details. The overall style is decorative, sometimes with Oriental influences (as in vases with floral motifs), yet with a typically Italian sensibility and painterly quality.

The Florentine ceramics district has a historical tradition dating back to Medici porcelain (16th century) and, in the modern era, has been dominated by the historic Manifattura Ginori at Doccia (now Richard Ginori).

C.A.B. forms part of the 20th-century Florentine artisan context, in which various smaller manufacturers produced high-quality artistic objects for export and the luxury market, often drawing inspiration from classical forms while adding a modern touch.