In 1947, using workers from Tuscany the accountant Richard Mason founded in Venice the "Ceramiche San Polo" in the palace of his property in Calle Pezzana, near Campo San Polo. At that moment, the only factory in Venice was that of Guerrieri brothers, who during the war have developed a production of tableware. "San Polo" is oriented in the firs...
In 1947, using workers from Tuscany the accountant Richard Mason founded in Venice the "Ceramiche San Polo" in the palace of his property in Calle Pezzana, near Campo San Polo. At that moment, the only factory in Venice was that of Guerrieri brothers, who during the war have developed a production of tableware. "San Polo" is oriented in the first period (1947-51) to a production of markedly decorative vases and dishes, lamps and objects in general are guided by a lively decoration, with the particularity of the third fire gilding. An attempt to industrial production of this type of ceramic enter into crisis in '51, also for the production costs excessive. At this critical juncture, just when the direction of the "San Polo" was looking for a way out, enters the scene Otello Rosa which in turn was forced to leave the laboratory Campiello del Remer. Rosa agrees to move to the artistic direction of the factory to the condition of having the highest artistic freedom in the addresses. What occurred at the "San Polo" is therefore not a change of direction, but a real overhaul. It 'about Otello Rosa had given birth to a new phase of Venetian ceramics. In a switch from the production of unique pieces such as the one carried out in the COROS mass production, Otello Rosa still holds now acquired some aspects of his training as a ceramist, the use of the lathe application of enamels, with some significant innovations. First, the large size, both in pots and in the bottle neck stretched or panels or sculptures; also all inventions are geared to furnishing the house, with a rapid alignment with the indications modern furnishings, as emerged from the ongoing debate in magazines such as Domus. As a result of these choices the production of "San Polo" is divided into a wide variety of solutions ranging from table lamps to the fireplace wall decorations to the fountains.
Many of these ceramics, whose style is decidedly outdated, must be assessed in the overall context of the furnishings of the time. Undoubtedly, the huge production "San Polo", which should be purified by successive additions of management Zannini (Venetian ceramics), there is not much to the level of songs like "Rhythm in two colors", "Rhythm in three colors, exhibited at the Biennale of 1954.
