Capodimonte is a porcelain factory founded in Naples, Italy by King Charles VII (1716-1788) of Bourbon and his wife Maria Amelia of Saxony. Under the direction of Giovanni Caselli and Livio Ottavio Schepers a formula was discovered for making high-quality, soft-paste porcelain
Initially, the factory used a crude fleur-de-lys to mark its pieces, but adopted a crowned ‘N’ as the factory mark in the 1770s. Reference: The British Museum
Below are some examples of Capodimonte marks and items which have an astrological / zodiac theme.
Capodimonte Blue fleur-de-lys in relief makers mark
Capodimonte Blue fleur-de-lys makers mark
Capodimonte Makers Mark Crowned N 1770s onwards
A Naples, Real Fabbrica Ferdinandea, coffee can and saucer, circa 1800-1806 The cup decorated with panels depicting the symbols of the zodiac, surrounded by blue-ground borders with gilt classical formal borders, the saucer with similar borders and painted with a sea scene of Cupid standing in a gold chariot pulled by two swans, crowned N mark in underglaze-blue to cup (saucer with small chip and associated haircrack)
Sold for £ 2,250 inc. premium
Capodimonte Oval Zodiac Charger. Raised center w/ male figure and horses, border with nudes and Zodiac animals. Measures – 15 3/4″.
Sold for $300 at Bruce Kodner Galleries in 2015
GIUSEPPE ARMANI ‘ARIES’ FIGURE. From the Zodiac series. Signed twice on the sculpture. Edition no. 979/5000. Copyright Florence 2001. Bearing the Capodimonte ‘N’ crown stamp. Raised on a base (H: 1.5” Diameter: 7.25”). With original box 18.75” x 9.75” x 5.5”
Sold for $375 at Susanin’s Auctions in 2014
