Figure Group thumbnail 1
Figure Group thumbnail 2
+3
images
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 137, The Curtain Foundation Gallery

Figure Group

1560-1575 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Colourful figural groups made in tin-glazed ceramic provided the opportunity to own a durable and highly finished, sculptural object at relatively low cost. Such groups were mostly objects with a practical function, such as inkwells or candlesticks. Table-fountains are more rare. This table fountain is suitably fashioned as a drunken Bacchus, resting on a wine barrel. The Bacchus figure has a hole behind the head, through which it can be filled with liquid, which then escapes through a hole in the side of the barrel as well as through his penis. He is literary pissed and pissing at the same time. Objects such as this were obviously intended to provide some entertainment for guests at dinner parties.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Tin-glazed earthenware painted with enamels
Brief description
Figure group of Bacchus in tin-glazed earthenware painted with enamels, Fontana Workshop, Urbino, 1560-1575.
Physical description
Figure group, tin-glazed earthenware painted with enamels, of Bacchus siting on a tree stump and drinking wine which has come from a cask at his side on which his arm rests. He is adorned with bunches of grapes and has a child and a goat beside him.
Dimensions
  • Height: 29.5cm
  • Width: 22cm
  • Depth: 19cm
Credit line
Presented by Lt. Col. K. Dingwall, DSO with Art Fund support
Historical context
Colourful figural groups made in tin-glazed ceramic provided the opportunity to own a durable and highly finished, sculptural object at relatively low cost. Such groups were mostly objects with a practical function, such as inkwells or candlesticks. Table-fountains are more rare. This table fountain is suitably fashioned as a drunken Bacchus, resting on a wine barrel. The Bacchus figure has a hole behind the head, through which it can be filled with liquid, which then escapes through a hole in the side of the barrel as well as through his penis. He is literary pissed and pissing at the same time. Objects such as this were obviously intended to provide some entertainment for guests at dinner parties.
Subjects depicted
Summary
Colourful figural groups made in tin-glazed ceramic provided the opportunity to own a durable and highly finished, sculptural object at relatively low cost. Such groups were mostly objects with a practical function, such as inkwells or candlesticks. Table-fountains are more rare. This table fountain is suitably fashioned as a drunken Bacchus, resting on a wine barrel. The Bacchus figure has a hole behind the head, through which it can be filled with liquid, which then escapes through a hole in the side of the barrel as well as through his penis. He is literary pissed and pissing at the same time. Objects such as this were obviously intended to provide some entertainment for guests at dinner parties.
Bibliographic references
  • Ravanelli Guidotti, C., Ceramiche occidentali del Museo Civico Medievale di Bologna, Bologna, 1985, p. 217, nr. 173
  • Ivanova 2003, Hermitage catalogue, cat 95 and 97
  • Bojani, G.C., C. Ravanelli Guidotti, A. Fanfani, La donazione Galeazzo Cora: ceramiche dal medioevo al XIX secolo, Milano, 1985, cat. 342, p. 142
Collection
Accession number
C.665-1920

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest