This mark has had me stumped for a number of years.
There are two types of PV marks-one written, as in your example and another either impressed into the clay or printed with PV in a circle. I am now of the opinion that either mark refers to 'Peasant Village'. This was a line created for, and imported by, Mittledorfer Strauss of New York. Peasant Village pieces were made in several countries, including France, Italy, and even the U.S.
Mittledofer used the PV logo beginning in 1928 and I believe they continued to use it through the 1960's. The parent company, Mittledorfer Strauss, remained active into the 1970's.
There is no way to tell which specific factory made these pieces as the customer, (the importer in this case) refused to allow any company names or logos to be used except their own.
I find this piece particularly interest because most examples of PV pottery were characteristically of a style common to the north of Italy. There is no question, in my opinion, as to the geographical origin of this tureen. It has all the elements found in southern Italian pottery, specifically the region of Campania. The cities of the Campania include Vietri Sul Mar, Sorrento and Salerno. Pottery from here is more primitive and more colorful. This pot reminds me closely of the work of Matteo Di Lieto of Vietri who was active from the 1950's through the 1970's.
Walter Del Pellegrino
