{"product_id":"lorenzo-la-sorpresa-the-surprise-large-capodimonte-figural-group-hand-painted-porcelain-italy-20th-century","title":"Lorenzo | La Sorpresa (The Surprise) | Large Capodimonte Figural Group | Hand-Painted Porcelain | Italy, 20th Century","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLorenzo | La Sorpresa (The Surprise) | Large Capodimonte Figural Group | Hand-Painted Porcelain | Italy, 20th Century\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e📍 COLLECTION ONLY\u003c\/strong\u003e — This item is available for collection from our premises in Plettenberg Bay only. Due to the extreme fragility of the extended porcelain elements — including the tree branches, individual leaves, applied fruit, and figure details — this piece cannot be shipped or couriered under any circumstances. No exceptions. Please contact us before purchasing to arrange collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Italians have always known that the moment worth capturing is not the before or the after — it is the instant of being caught.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Capodimonte tradition — originating with the royal Neapolitan porcelain factory established in 1743 — became, over the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, a broad decorative language defined by highly detailed figural groups, expressive modelling, and richly hand-painted surfaces. The crowned N mark, once reserved for the Bourbon factory, was widely adopted by later Italian workshops producing work in this style.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eLa Sorpresa\u003c\/em\u003e belongs to this later tradition: a large-scale narrative composition in which multiple figures are arranged to capture a single moment of tension and discovery. Pieces of this type were produced for display, valued for their theatrical composition, technical ambition, and the sheer density of hand-worked detail.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe group is mounted on an oval base with a moulded rocaille border heightened in gilt. A gilt cartouche to the front carries the painted title La Sorpresa. The scene unfolds beneath a fruiting tree: an older barefoot boy reclines against the trunk, his body twisted as he points downward, alerting his companion. Below, a younger boy kneels beside a basket of gathered apples, his posture turning sharply in reaction. To the right, an elderly farmer advances — one hand braced against the tree, the other raised with a short stick — his expression fixed in the moment of discovery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition is resolved entirely through gesture. The tension between the three figures is immediate and legible, each posture contributing to a single suspended instant. The surrounding detail — fallen fruit, leaves, rope, cartwheel, barrel and jug — extends the narrative into the environment, creating a fully realised rural setting rather than a simple figure group.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe piece is signed Lorenzo to the base, consistent with studio-decorated Capodimonte production of the twentieth century. The crowned N mark appears in a circular medallion to the reverse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are no chips or cracks to the primary figures or structural elements. Minor losses are present to some of the applied grass and leaf details at the outer edges of the base, consistent with age and the inherent fragility of these elements. The painted surfaces remain bright and intact.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrade\u003c\/strong\u003e: Very Good to Excellent\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e⚠️ \u003cstrong\u003eDisplay Note\u003c\/strong\u003e: This piece is strictly for display. The extended branches, applied leaves, and fine detailing are highly fragile and should be handled minimally and positioned securely.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaker: Lorenzo (signed)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMark: Crowned N Capodimonte mark\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTitle: La Sorpresa (The Surprise)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eForm: Large figural group on oval base\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Hand-painted porcelain\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOrigin: Italy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePeriod: 20th century\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDimensions: 40 cm (L) × 29 cm (W) × 39 cm (H)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCollector Appeal\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLarge Capodimonte figural groups occupy a distinct position in the market, where value is driven less by factory attribution and more by scale, complexity, and narrative execution. Pieces of this size — incorporating multiple figures, extensive applied detail, and a fully developed scene — represent the upper tier of decorative production within the tradition. The appeal lies in their ability to function as focal objects: they are not supplementary, but central to a display. Examples with intact figures, clear narrative composition, and minimal peripheral loss remain consistently desirable among collectors and interior buyers alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe farmer's stick is raised but he has not yet struck — and in porcelain, he never will. The moment holds — not because it is resolved, but because it is not.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e📍 COLLECTION ONLY\u003c\/strong\u003e — This item is available for collection from our premises in Plettenberg Bay only. Due to the extreme fragility of the extended porcelain elements — including the tree branches, individual leaves, applied fruit, and figure details — this piece cannot be shipped or couriered under any circumstances. No exceptions. Please contact us before purchasing to arrange collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Dancing Faun ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45050769834184,"sku":null,"price":8950.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0575\/3497\/2104\/files\/rn-image_picker_lib_temp_1dc44391-5370-4f4b-b19b-7728c37ed139.jpg?v=1775843103","url":"https:\/\/dancingfaun.co.za\/products\/lorenzo-la-sorpresa-the-surprise-large-capodimonte-figural-group-hand-painted-porcelain-italy-20th-century","provider":"The Dancing Faun ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}