Irma, the founder of Corte dei Gonzaga, is passionate about the heritage and traditions of her native city, Mantova. In particular, she has thoroughly researched the production method and designs of antique ceramics and devoted her talents to giving them a new life.

This childbirth set consists of 2 bowls, richly decorated both inside and outside.

Dimensions (inches): 3.9x2.7h each
Dimensions (cm): 9.8x7h each

Until not too many decades ago, childbirth was a very dangerous and risky business and a happy ending called for a proper celebration. A childbirth set, also known as an accouchement set, was a fine gift for the new mother, who would use it until she was ready to resume her social life. Then it became a family heirloom.

The wellwishers commissioned the set from a local artisan. Depending on the budget, the set would consist of up to 7 pieces, fit nicely one into the other to form a single item. The most common pieces were a shallow bowl for the meat, a deep bowl or a footed bowl for the broth, a sauceboat or an egg holder, a bread dish, and a spice or salt dish.

La Corte dei Gonzaga's pieces are entirely handmade. Minor variations from the above picture are a sign and proof of human touch, making each and every piece unique.

Handmade & hand-painted in Mantova, Italy
Material: ceramic
Food-safe & compliant with FDA regulations - 100% lead free

Irma is a talented artisan from Mantova (Mantua in English), a charming town in the north of Italy, who has taken upon herself the ambitious task to revive the ancient glory of the local ceramic tradition.
As a first step, she named her studio after the Gonzaga dynasty, rulers of Mantova and patrons of the arts from 1328 to 1707. Then she adopted the technique used in the region when Mantova ceramics reached the peak of their popularity. The method, known as sgraffito, consists in scratching the design on the first layer of glaze (engobe). After the first firing, she paints the pottery and proceeds to a second firing. Finally, she molds and decorates her pottery drawing inspiration from traditional shapes and designs.

Mantova owes its good name in the history of Italian ceramics to the quality and beauty of its sgraffito ceramics, handcrafted locally from the 15th to the 17th century.
Thanks to the increasing trade with the Middle East, the sgraffito technique had become known in Italy in the 10th century. Still, the artisans in Mantova took it to new heights with the patronage of the Gonzaga during the Renaissance. They made significant contributions to Italian culture, and under their rule, Mantova became a center of humanism and art.

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