This Marcello Fantoni organically-glazed ashtray measures 1" high by 7.75" across by 7.5" across its other side. It has an open low bowl or tray form with 'V' cutouts on two sides. It is likely an ashtray, but could serve as a low dish or tray as well. Best of all, it is covered in a wonderful palette of lava glaze in orange, green and brown, in typical organic Fantoni style. This great mid-century ashtray is marked 'Fantoni Italy for Raymor' on the base, along with two paper labels from a Paris, France fabric shop, and its original Raymor paper label.  It is in original studio condition, with the usual glaze nuances of hand made pots, but no apologies.  This is a handsome MCM Fantoni ashtray in a great organic glaze presentation.
Born in Florence, Marcello Fantoni registered at the Institute of Art at Porta Romana in 1927 to attend the course The Art of Ceramics. He graduated in 1934 as a ‘maestro’ of art, and began working as a ceramist. In 1936 he established the Fantoni Ceramic studio.
His works can be seen at the Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York, the Brooklyn Museum, the Museum of Fine Art of Boston, the Currier Gallery, the Syracuse Museum. In Britain they are in the Victoria and Albert Museum of London, the City Art Gallery of Manchester, at Royal Scottish Museum of Edinburg. In Japan they are present at the Museum of Modern Art of Tokyo and Kyoto. In Italy they are represented at the International Museum of Ceramics in Faenza, the National Bargello Museum and at the Gabinetto Disegni e Stampe of the Uffizi.
In 1970 he founded the International School of Ceramic Arts at his laboratory in via Bolognese in Florence where he continued to work and teach until his passing in 2011.