A classic example of a16th-century Italian Maiolica plate, specifically a tin-glazed earthenware piece adorned with a portrait of a crowned individual, likely a king, and surrounded by stylized foliage.
Maiolica:This term refers to Italian tin-glazed pottery, characterised by its opaque white surface created by adding tin oxide to the lead glaze, allowing for vibrant and detailed painted decoration.
Renaissance Significance:Italian maiolica, particularly from the 15th and 16th centuries, reached an astonishing degree of perfection during the Renaissance, with centres like Faenza, Deruta, Urbino, and Montelupo producing sophisticated pieces for a luxury market.
Artistic Evolution:Early maiolica, influenced by Hispano-Moresque lustreware, evolved to include a wider palette of colors beyond the initial green and manganese purple, incorporating cobalt blue, antimony yellow, and iron-oxide orange by the late 15th century.
Decorative Motifs:While early maiolica often featured Gothic ornament or sgraffito techniques, the Renaissance saw the rise of more elaborate "istoriato" wares, depicting historical and mythical scenes, or portraits like the one seen in your image.
Production Centres:Cities like Deruta (near Perugia) and Montelupo (near Florence) became renowned for their high-quality maiolica production in the late 15th century, developing distinct regional styles.
Cultural Context:Such plates were not only functional but also served as symbols of status and cultural appreciation, often commissioned by wealthy patrons and used in lavish settings. The inclusion of a crowned figure further suggests a connection to royalty or nobility.
Provenance: 16th century, Italy. Previously in the private collection of the owner of Holt Antiques. Prior to this, in the ownership of a private Italian collection.
Condition: The plate has been broken into two fragments (see images) and repaired. There are minor glaze losses where the breakage has been rejoined.
Size: Diameter 20 cm (7 7/8 inches)
Historical Context
Maiolica-Italy’s celebrated tin-glazed earthenware—reached its artistic peak in the 16th century, when painters began adorning plates and dishes with vivid scenes from mythology, scripture, and classical history. This style, known as istoriato, transformed functional ceramics into storytelling canvases. The crowned figure on this plate likely represents a noble or allegorical subject, rendered in rich polychrome glazes over a white tin base. Produced in towns like Deruta, Faenza, or Montelupo, such pieces were prized by Renaissance households and often displayed as symbols of taste and learning.
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