In 1936, Nino Barbantini presented an exhibition at Ca’ Rezzonico dedicated to the porcelain of Venice and Nove to document an aspect that of 18th century Venetian Art that had hitherto been largely overlooked. The works displayed came above all from Venice’s civic collections and from museums and private collections throughout Italy.

The most generous lender however, was a Venetian, conte Marino Nani Mocenigo, an emblematic collector who had dedicated his existence to forming a collection of porcelain. Such was his obsession that he was given the affectionate nickname of “count cup” by his fellow citizens. Following his death, his wife decided to form a memorial to he rhusband by making accessible the collection he had formed with such passion. The objects were put on display at Ca’ del Duca, a tiny but excellent museum developed, but which it has been impossible to visit for a long time.

On this occasion, by request of the family, the porcelain collection of Marino Nani Mocenigo will be displayed in the rooms of Ca’ Rezzonico. The exhibition will present 338 pieces produced by the most important manufactories of Europe,with a predominant focus on about 100 Venetian articles – including some splendid examples by Vezzi, two very rare coffee-pots by Hewelcke, almost all the figural groups made by Pasquale Antonibon at Nove and Geminiano Cozzi in Venice – constituting the most conspicuous and important part of the exhibition. Perhaps the most famous work in the collection is a delightful Geographer by Geminiano Cozzi.

visitors can also admire some of the most famous works to have been produced by the Meissen factory, modelled by Johann Joachim Kändler and by Peter Reinicke, such as The Polish Kiss, The Chinese Girl, The Hunter, together with some astonishing dinner services, also from Meissen, dating from the early 18th century; one of these with gold decorations, and another in white porcelain with still lifes of fruit.

Together with Meissen, the exhibition will display examples of fine porcelain production from other German-speaking centres: a very rare part of a Chinoiserie dinner service made in Vienna by Claudius Innocentius Du Paquier, and articles from Ludwigsburg, Frankenthal, Höchst and Berlin.

The exhibition closes with a large selection of cups and saucers by the imperial manufacture of Vienna dating from the Sorgenthal period, all characterised by an astonishing use of colour and bold combination of ornamental motifs.