Large old ceramic melon/watermelon trompe l'oeil

Brilliant and rare large old trompe l'oeil, depicting a large green melon or watermelon (certainly not a papaya) with a cut part. Ceramic, earthenware or artisanal majolica, no certainty about the origin, most probably italy at the beginning of the 20th century or earlier. It is placed with the "slice" facing up, in the middle of the latter there are 22 orifices whose usefulness is not obvious, but it could well be a flower skewer. Polylobed oval shape, textured like a squash skin, hand painted and varnished in dark green, pale yellow, marbled tones. Orange and yellow center/edge. Small brown tail. Flat bottom. Approximately 29cm in max length, approximately 15cm in max width, for 16-16.5cm in max height. Very good general condition, very small and rare marks of time or extremely discreet manufacturing (very small shocks, varnish tarnished by time) and patina. A manufacturing defect under the base, relatively large crack from cooking, quite deep, so I think it does not hold water, therefore stings flowers for bouquets of dry flowers. Defect not very annoying and not conspicuous however since under the bottom. About 1kg relatively light for its size. It seems that an embossed stamp is affixed to the crack but there is no certainty, it is illegible.

Ref. : F3WVY9VP