Basin thumbnail 1
Basin thumbnail 2
+4
images
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 145

Basin

before 1458 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

During the 15th century, Valencia was the major centre for the production and trade of lustre pottery in Spain. Valencian potters, of both Muslim and Christian origin, produced the most sophisticated ceramics to be found in Europe at that time. They supplied the local elite with luxury ceramics but their products were also exported all over Europe.

This large basin is decorated with the arms of Maria of Castile, wife of King Alfonso V of Aragón, one of the most prominent figures of the early Renaissance.
Maria of Castile (1401-1458), daughter of Henry III of Castile and Catherine of Lancaster, married Alfonso V (1396 – 27 June 1458) in Valencia in 1415. Alfonso ‘the Magnanimous’ was the King of Aragon, Valencia, Majorca, Sardinia, Corsica, and Sicily and Count of Barcelona from 1416 and King of Naples (as Alfonso I) from 1442 until his death.
Maria had delicate health, and was said to be unattractive. During Alfonso's wars in Italy, she acted as a regent in Aragon. Alfonso and Maria failed to produce children. She was buried in the convent of the Trinidad in Valencia.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Tin-glazed earthenware with lustre decoration
Brief description
Basin, made in Manises, Spain, before 1458, tin-glazed earthenware with lustre decoration
Physical description
Large, deep basin, tin-glazed earthenware with lustre decoration, with arms of María de Castilla, wife of King Alfonso V of Aragón.
Dimensions
  • Height: 11.2cm
  • Diameter: 50.9cm
Gallery label
Basin Made in Manises, Valencia, Spain before 1458 Tin-glazed earthenware with lustre decoration 243-1853(16/07/2008)
Object history
Sale at Phillips.

Purchase price note: Bought for £5 5s.
Production
17-11-2003 The shape of this basin is similar to dish from Kunstsammlungen der Veste Coburg, Inv. H.A.1116 (for image see Object Info File of cat.139, museum number 489-1864)
Subject depicted
Summary
During the 15th century, Valencia was the major centre for the production and trade of lustre pottery in Spain. Valencian potters, of both Muslim and Christian origin, produced the most sophisticated ceramics to be found in Europe at that time. They supplied the local elite with luxury ceramics but their products were also exported all over Europe.

This large basin is decorated with the arms of Maria of Castile, wife of King Alfonso V of Aragón, one of the most prominent figures of the early Renaissance.
Maria of Castile (1401-1458), daughter of Henry III of Castile and Catherine of Lancaster, married Alfonso V (1396 – 27 June 1458) in Valencia in 1415. Alfonso ‘the Magnanimous’ was the King of Aragon, Valencia, Majorca, Sardinia, Corsica, and Sicily and Count of Barcelona from 1416 and King of Naples (as Alfonso I) from 1442 until his death.
Maria had delicate health, and was said to be unattractive. During Alfonso's wars in Italy, she acted as a regent in Aragon. Alfonso and Maria failed to produce children. She was buried in the convent of the Trinidad in Valencia.
Bibliographic reference
Ray, Anthony. Spanish Pottery 1248-1898 : with a catalogue of the collection in the Victoria and Albert Museum London, V&A Publications, 2000
Other number
163 - Spanish pottery, Ray (2000)
Collection
Accession number
243-1853

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Record createdJuly 16, 2008
Record URL
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