Capodimonte flowers are as delicate as they are stunning. Each one is made from the finest porcelain of Italian pottery. You can easily add a beautiful touch of Italian style to any room with these elegant flowers. They are commonly used as a table centerpiece or coffee table décor. Learn about the history of Capodimonte and how these beautiful flowers are created.

History

The history of Italian porcelain started in Naples back in 1738. In 1743, the first porcelain factory was established in Naples, Italy by King Charles. The factory known as The Royal Manufactory of Porcelain stood high atop a hill, which is where the name “Capodimonte” or “Top of the Mountain” came from. Its primary sets and pieces produced were dinner and tableware, and then came trinket boxes, vases, figurines, and decorative pieces.

In 1759, King Charles III of Spain ordered his troops to destroy the factory in Naples and transfer all the equipments, artists, chemists, and molds to a Spanish porcelain factory in order to protect his manufacturing secrets. However, it went from Spain back to Italy when his son, Ferdinand, took over and became the King of Naples and then the King of Sicily. As a result, the Capodimonte production continued again in Italy.

Creation

Capodimonte flowers are created using the finest grain and the purest white colored clay. Each flower is sculpted entirely by hand, which takes about 20 minutes per flower. After it is sculpted, it’s then kiln-fired and cooled to ensure durability. After the cooling, it’s then painted with a spray gun. The artisan then switches to a brush and hand-paints the leaves of the flower. Each leaf is shaded to create depth and dimension to make it appear life-like.

Want to explore the full detail in the creation of a Capodimonte flower? See our video below.