Years ago at an indoor antiques fair in New England, I found an incredibly beautiful cast plaster urn shaped lamp base. It was robin's egg blue with gilded highlights and the patina was a knockout. In color and patina, it matched the sky blue and gilded painted boiserie panels of one of the rooms in the Met's Wrightsman gallery. The bottom was faced with black felt and a paper label with the word "borghese." Priced at $50, I grabbed it quick. I had never bought a cast plaster item before - cast plaster considered low quality junk at the time - but the finish and shape were so appealing, I couldn't resist.

Don't know where that lamp ended up (I probably sold it later that day for all I remember) but I didn't see another cast plaster Borghese-labeled item till years later... on eBay. Since then, I have collected a little cache of unusual Borghese items, all bought on eBay. Researching the orgins of these quaint decorative items has proven a challenge. There is nothing online. But a few years ago, I did buy two catalogs which have helped shed some light on the who, when and where of Borghese decorative objects.

Identifying Borghese

There is some confusion rampant among dealers and collectors about the cast plaster items sold on eBay as "Borghese." The items themselves range from lamps, plaques, bookends, figurines, mirrors, boxes, shelves and framed prints. These items can be identified as real "Borghese" manufacture by the white paper label with red or black lettering and graphics usually pasted on the back or underneath the items.

    

These are only two examples of the many variations one will find on a authentic Borghese item. The labels come in many sizes and shapes.

Cast plaster items without the "borghese" label may be actual Borghese if the form itself can be documented by existing examples with the labels. Items that cannot be identified as "borghese" from existing, known examples and do not show evidence of a paper label are, most likely, not real Borghese manufacture. And where and when were Borghese cast plaster items made?...

Origin

The most common misconception about Borghese items is their origin. Many sellers mistakenly state that they were made in Italy, most likely because of the association with the Borghese Gardens in Rome. The items were actually manufactured by Niepold's Inc in Gaithersburg, Maryland just outside of Washington, DC,  starting shortly after the beginning of the 20th century and continuing up till the early 1970's. Little is actually recorded about this company except for the first page of a Borghese catalog that dates to about 1970. The company was started by a gentleman named Mr. Niepold and after his death, the business continued with his sons and grandsons at the helm. From existing documentation, it would appear that the business ceased production sometime in the 1970's. [If you have any information about this company or the family behind it, I would be forever grateful if you sent it my way - Griff]

The following is reprinted from this catalog (which I purchased on eBay several years ago):

The output of Niepold's firm was distributed to department stores and decorators across the country. Niepolds printed regular catalogs of their most recent production for the wholesale trade. (I bought two of these on eBay a few years ago). I cannot find any evidence that the firm actually sold wares from their production location outside of DC but I suspect that there were at least a few outlets in the DC area. I would advise any collector living in or visiting the DC area to keep an eye peeled for Borghese in thrift and antique stores.

Borghese Plaster Cast Items

Borghese figurines, boxes, lamp bases, and bookends are all molded in a hard, high quality plaster and then painted or gilded. The surfaces were then deliberately distressed to mimic years of wear and patina. The following three scans are from a 1970 catalog:

     



Borghese parrot - 18 inches high
from the author's collection

Borghese Framed Prints and Art

From early on in its history, Niepolds, Inc. produced a wide range of framed art reproductions and prints (called "Panels" in their catalogs). The earliest examples were actual artist painted copies on stretched canvas, of famous landscapes, portraits and silhouettes ranging in style from the Renaissance through the 19th century. These copies are extremely rare. The examples below are from a 1929 catalog of Borghese items that were offered by Charles Hall Inc, a distributor of Borghese in its three exclusive store locations in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. They display a wide range of engravings and prints in all shapes and sizes:

  


Although not completely documented, it would appear that some of the earliest prints labeled "borghese" do actually contain authentic 19th century monotone and colored engravings which were pasted into wood frames, under glass or cast plaster frames and then laquered over with varnish. The wood framed examples are probably of the earliest manufacture and usually have the highest value. The backs of the wood framed prints are usually covered with a brown paper upon which the "borghese" label is pasted. The plaster framed prints are usually backed in velvet or paper.

Collecting Borghese

The plaster cast items are, by nature, subject to cracks and chips so finding examples in flawless condition is a challenge. However, repairing and coloring in chips and cracks for these items is usually a fairly simple task, especially since the surfaces were already deliberately distressed.

Borghese of the earliest manufacture is usually more intricate in design and craftsmanship. It would appear from the two catalogs in my possession - one from 1929 and one from 1970, that the quality of design diminished through the years, no doubt in the interest of expense. Latter examples are fairly common on eBay but the early examples rarely appear on the market. When they do, they usually, but not always, bring a premium. I suspect the collecting interest in Borghese is still pretty new.

To find Borghese items on eBay, try searching the Antiques category using the following:

(borghese) (lamp,box,bookend,figurine,plaster,shelf,print,frame,mirror)

Items tend to range in price from a $10 to $200 depending on rarity and condition.

NOTE: Except for the earlier pieces with wood frames, Borghese items are always made of cast plaster. Borghese never had a foundry and never cast in metal (or plastic). All Borghese non-hanging items were backed with either green or black felt. Pictures, wall plaques, and other wall decorations were usually backed with terra cotta heavy stock paper or they were left bare.

Happy hunting!

Griff

Update: a kind eBay member pointed out that The Prosperi Company is reproducing products similar to old Borghese products (some are obviously from identical molds). Search for them online.

Update: The Prosperi Company website is no longer available. I have no other news.