A BOTTLE, SAVONA, 18TH CENTURY BOTTLE, SAVONA, 18TH CENTURY Monochrome painted majolica, quadrangular section body with slightly everted mouth on short cylindrical neck. The decoration is outlined freehand on a blued glazed surface and depicts four portraits of male characters wearing different headgear. These portraits seem to be inspired by printed depictions of carnival masks, but the author's extreme drawing skill is striking, as he quickly sketches the faces and costumes, defining the characters with almost caricatured features. The form is classic Ligurian, without a mark, while the portraits recall some of Agostino Ratti's ceramic works, such as the undercup with Pulcinella maestro di musica or the octagonal plate from the Sevres Museum; h. 29.2 cm, base 11.6x11.2 cm Comparative literature R. Collu in C. Chilosi (ed.), Ceramiche della tradizione ligure. Thesaurus di opere dal Medio Evo al primo Novecento , Cinisello Balsamo 2011, pp. 186-187 nn. 221-222