Medici porcelain thumbnail 1
Not on display

Medici porcelain

Plate
1575-1587 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Florence (made)

Soft-paste 'Medici Porcelain' plate, a Fritware made with white Vicenza clay and ground rock crystal with painted decoration in blue under a layer of transparent lead-glaze.

Object details

Category
Ceramics
Object type
Plate
TitleMedici porcelain (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Soft-paste 'Medici Porcelain', a Fritware made with white Vicenza clay and ground rock crystal with painted decoration under a layer of transparent lead-glaze
Brief description
Plate, made in Florence, 1575-87, soft-paste 'Medici Porcelain', fritware with painted decoration in blue under a layer of transparent lead-glaze
Physical description
Soft-paste 'Medici Porcelain' plate, a Fritware made with white Vicenza clay and ground rock crystal with painted decoration in blue under a layer of transparent lead-glaze.
Marks and inscriptions
'F' and a depiction of the dome of Florence Cathedral
Gallery label
(16/07/2008)
Plate 'Medici porcelain'
Made in Florence, Italy 1575-87
Marks: "F" and a depiction of the dome of Florence Cathedral
Soft-paste 'Medici Porcelain', a Fritware made with white Vicenza clay and ground rock crystal with painted decoration in blue under a layer of transparent lead-glaze

C.136-1914 Purchase (Fitzhenry Collection) formerly Duca di Verdura Collection, Palermo

In about 1575, Grand Duke Francesco I de Medici, was the first Western ruler to attempt to imitate the translucent white ceramic body of Chinese porcelain, when he set up a pottery in Florence, lead by his court artist Bernardo Buontalenti. The painted decoration in blue, is also based on Chinese examples.
Object history
Purchase (Fitzhenry Collection). Formerly Duca di Verdura Collection, Palermo. In about 1575, Grand Duke Francesco I de Medici, was the first Western ruler to attempt to imitate the translucent white ceramic body of Chinese porcelain, when he set up a pottery in Florence, lead by his court artist Bernardo Buontalenti. The painted decoration in blue, is also based on Chinese examples.
Bibliographic reference
Cora, G. and A. Fanfani. La porcellana dei Medici. Milan, 1986. pp.70-71.
Collection
Ceramics Collection
Accession number
C.136-1914

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 createdJuly 16, 2008
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O161515/medici-porcelain-plate-unknown/
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest