Scope and Content of Collection

This collection, formerly owned by the historian Felice Barnabei, consists principally of records relating to the production and decoration of ceramics, especially majolica, by three generations of the Gentili family --Bernardino II (d. 1683); Bernardino's son Carmine (1678-1763); and Carmine's sons, Giacomo II (1717-1765) and Ber[n]ardino III (1727-1813). Included are design drawings, pounced drawings, and prints and pounced prints of subjects for the decoration of ceramics. The archive also contains reports and agreements relating to the manufacture of pottery in the town of Castelli (Teramo), with lists of pieces made and objects sold.

Some Gentili family records, as well as Barnabei papers from the early 20th century, and Barnabei family papers from the late 19th century, relate to the traditions and history of the potters of Castelli.

Each item in the archive is numbered. One file holds typed transcriptions of some documents (21 pp.).

Note: the inventory, as translated by Catherine Hess (curator, J. Paul Getty Museum), has been used in processing this collection.