Hand-Painted Italian Ceramic Jar for Cardel

This is a hand-painted ceramic vessel, likely a decorative jar or pitcher, exhibiting classic Italian majolica characteristics. The underside features a hand-lettered mark in black glaze which reads 'ITALY', followed by a model or production number 'B209', and the name 'CARDEL', indicating it was imported or retailed by Cardel, a known distributor of fine tablewares. The item is constructed from a traditional buff-toned earthenware body with an opaque white tin-glaze on the interior and base. The exterior displays a vibrant, high-relief (impasto style) glaze in shades of emerald green and citron yellow, suggesting a botanical or cabbage leaf motif. The foot rim is unglazed, revealing the coarse texture of the ceramic body. Condition-wise, there is visible wear to the foot rim with some darkening and small chips consistent with age and use. The glaze application is textured and somewhat irregular, which is a hallmark of artisanal hand-craftsmanship rather than mass industrial production. Based on the style and marking, this piece likely dates to the mid-to-late 20th century, representing a period when high-quality Italian ceramics were heavily exported to upscale American boutiques.