Dish thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 137, The Curtain Foundation Gallery

Dish

about 1470-1490 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The decoration is scratched through a surface coating of white slip, laid over the darker clay body of the earthenware. In this manner, the decoration stands out as dark lines on a pale background. The decoration is then highlighted with metallic oxides to produce the green and brownish-yellow colours. Finally, the dish is covered with a transparent lead glaze and then fired again in the kiln. It is at this point that the painted coloured oxides would run in the glaze causing the variegated effect you see here.

Incised slipware was a predominantly northern Italian tradition. The abundant, dark-red local clay was used to optimum decorative advantage, when contrasted with fine white clay which could be obtained from Vicenza. Two notable centres of production were Bologna and Ferrara, where the court demanded wares of the highest quality.

Large dishes like this were used for bringing food to the table and serving, as well as for display. Contemporary illustrations, show servants carrying large dishes covered by a second dish, which served as a cover to keep the food hot.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Incised slipware
Brief description
Red earthenware covered with white slip and with incised decoration of the myth of Diana and Acteon. The whole painted with oxides and covered with a clear glaze. Italian (Ferrara), about 1470 to 1490.
Physical description
Red earthenware dish covered with white slip and with incised decoration of the myth of Diana and Acteon. The whole painted with oxides (copper green, managnese purple and brownish yellow) and covered with a clear glaze.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 48cm
Gallery label
  • Dish ' ' depicting Diana and Actaeon Probably made in Ferrara about 1470 Incised slipware 6669-1860 Montferrand Collection(16/07/2008)
  • Display dish depicting the myth of Diana and Acteon Red earthenware covered with white slip, painted with oxides and covered with a clear glaze Italian (Ferrara), about 1470 to 1490.(2010 (TAB))
Object history
Purchase: Montferrand Collection.
Production
J Mallet
Ferrara, about 1470. Sgraffito large plate, with brown, green and manganese glaze.
Subjects depicted
Summary
The decoration is scratched through a surface coating of white slip, laid over the darker clay body of the earthenware. In this manner, the decoration stands out as dark lines on a pale background. The decoration is then highlighted with metallic oxides to produce the green and brownish-yellow colours. Finally, the dish is covered with a transparent lead glaze and then fired again in the kiln. It is at this point that the painted coloured oxides would run in the glaze causing the variegated effect you see here.

Incised slipware was a predominantly northern Italian tradition. The abundant, dark-red local clay was used to optimum decorative advantage, when contrasted with fine white clay which could be obtained from Vicenza. Two notable centres of production were Bologna and Ferrara, where the court demanded wares of the highest quality.

Large dishes like this were used for bringing food to the table and serving, as well as for display. Contemporary illustrations, show servants carrying large dishes covered by a second dish, which served as a cover to keep the food hot.
Bibliographic references
  • Rackham, Bernard. Catalogue of Italian maiolica. London : H.M.S.O., 1977.
  • Nepoti, S., Ceramiche Graffite della donazione Donini Baer, Faenza (Museo Internazionale delle Ceramiche in Faenza) 1991, cats. 40-49
  • Honey, W.B., 'Bologna Pottery of the Renaissance Period', The Burlington Magazine, vol.48, no.278 (May 1926), pp.224-235
  • Rackham, Bernard. Catalogue of Italian Maiolica, London : H.M.S.O., 1977
Other number
1334 - Rackham (1977)
Collection
Accession number
6669-1860

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Record createdJuly 16, 2008
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