Not currently on display at the V&A

Vase

early 16th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Della Robbia (maker)
Place of origin
Italy (made)

This blue enamelled terracotta vase has a cup-shaped body, small foot, spreading lip and two dolphin handles. Around the body there is a band of guilloche ornament with gadroons beneath. The neck of the vase is decorated with imbrications, and the foot has a band of rope ornament. The vase is further enriched with gilding.


Object details

Category
Vases
Object type
Vase
Materials and techniques
Enamelled terracotta
Terracotta
Enamelled
Brief description
Vase, blue enamelled earthenware, dolphin handles, della Robbia ware.
Physical description
Vase of blue enamelled terracotta, with cup-shaped body, small foot, spreading lip and two dolphin handles; round the body runs a band of guilloche ornament with gadroons beneath; the neck is decorated with imbrications, and the foot with a band of rope ornament. The vase is further enriched with gilding.
Dimensions
  • Height: 10.5in
  • Diameter: 6.875in
Object history
Bought for £16. 3s. 6d.
Subjects depicted
Dolphin
Guilloche
Gadroons
Rope Design
Summary
This blue enamelled terracotta vase has a cup-shaped body, small foot, spreading lip and two dolphin handles. Around the body there is a band of guilloche ornament with gadroons beneath. The neck of the vase is decorated with imbrications, and the foot has a band of rope ornament. The vase is further enriched with gilding.
Bibliographic references
  • List of Objects in the Art Division South Kensington Museum acquired during the Year 1897. Arranged according to the dates of acquisition, with appendix and indices. London: Her Majesty's Stationary Office. Wyman and Sons. 1901. pp.89
  • Pope-Hennessy, John. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: Her Majesty's Stationary Office, 1964. pp. 244
  • Gentilini, Giancarlo. I della Robbia, La scultura invetnata nel Rinascimento. Florence. 1992. pl. 218. pp. 211. note 21 pp. 270.
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
642-1897

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Record createdFebruary 16, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O187877/vase-della-robbia/
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