The pieces here are all by a Florence-based pottery named Il Quadrifoglio, but collectors outside of Italy didn’t formally know the name until author Mark Hill (Fat Lava, Alla Moda) wrote about the pottery on his blog in 2016. In hindsight, the name is obvious: Quadrifoglio is four leaves in Italian, and every piece is signed on the bottom with what appears to be a four-leafed clover. Occasionally, you will find pieces signed on the body with “Milvia” or “Simmo” (see large plate above); both worked for Quadrifoglio in the late 50s. Milvia, the company’s chief designer in 1958, later went on to success in fabric design, while Simonetta (“Simmo”) worked with Milvia in 1959. I suspect neither was a trained artist, as the pieces — with their wax crayon decor over rudimentary shapes — possess a slightly crude aesthetic, albeit one with a touch of whimsy (there is nothing like a Frenchwoman lassoing a husband on the border (!) between California and Texas). Considering Quadrifoglio was sold to European homemakers for use, not artistic contemplation, I’m sure the products filled their role well. La casalinga in the 50s may have liked Guido Gambone’s ceramics, but buying Quadrifoglio was the smarter way to stretch the lira.