79/1997

Collection

Ceramics

Brief description

Tin-glazed earthenware (maiolica) plate, hand-painted with a linear geometric interlacing pattern of squares, flower heads and curved lines, made in Montelupo, Italy, c.1575-1625.

Object name

plate

Object number

79/1997

Production date

1575-1625 (manufactured)

Production place

Montelupo (manufactured)

Period

Tudor (1485-1603)
Stuart (1603-1714)

Material

earthenware
tin glaze
pigment

Technique

glazed
hand painted
fired

Physical description

Montelupo maiolica (tin-glazed earthenware) plate painted with a blue linear geometric interlacing 'net' pattern of five large squares (one central, four towards the rim) each divided into nine small squares and connected by curved blue lines. The four large outer squares alternate with green and yellow four-petalled flower heads. The spaces between the looping lines are filled with fields of blue dots. The glossy white overall tin glaze has some blobbing on the rim; the rounded rim is painted in yellow. A crack measuring approximately 17cm runs across the rim, and there is chipping to the rim. The white buff fabric of the plate is visible on a more recent chip under the rim. A fine hairline crack of approximately 6cm runs from the rim towards the centre, and there is one central scratch and two more towards the rim. There are five chips towards the centre of the plate, some probably probably from kiln furniture. The footed base is flat underneath and encircled by three rings of lilac grey lines.

Dimensions

Diameter: 32.1cm
Height: 4.6cm

Website keywords

ornaments

Label

Label text for ‘Keeping House’ case, Information Bay 1, Geffrye Museum, 2010:
Plate, about 1575–1625
Tin-glazed earthenware (maiolica), from Montelupo in Italy
Colourful plates such as this would have been displayed in the hall which was the main living and dining space in the first half of the seventeenth century. They would have been propped-up on the top of serving tables or cupboards, known as ‘court cupboards’.

Label text for the exhibition At Home with the World, Geffrye Museum (20 March 2012- 9 September 2012):
Plate, about 1575–1625
Tin-glazed earthenware (maiolica), from Montelupo in Italy
Tin-glazed earthenware ceramics originated in North Africa and spread up through southern Europe to places like Spain and Italy, and were known as ‘maiolica’. The complex geometric decoration suggests inspiration from Iznik, a city in Turkey, and shows Islamic design influences. Dishes like this one were imported into England and displayed in the homes of middling sorts.