An Italian majolica Passover plate

the center with the Kiddush and the order of the Seder, surrounded by wide molded rim with scenes of Joseph Greeting his Brothers and the Passover Meal in Egypt, four heroes (Moses, Aaron, Solomon, David), and two floral plaques in molded borders, the back signed Isaac Cohen, Pesaro 5374

Morpurgo Collection, Trieste

This plate belongs to a group of majolica examples with "Renaissance" inscriptions, many held in museum collections; one was shown as early as 1887 in the Anglo-Jewish Historical exhibition in London.  Cecil Roth in 1964 and various other writers have wrestled with the dating and iconography of this group, but in 1991 Vivian B. Mann showed that the scenes are derived from the Triestse Haggadah of 1864 - meaning that these are among the earliest examples of revivalist Judaica, created to supply a taste for early pieces among late 19th century collectors.  See "Forging Judaica: The Case of the Italian Majolica Seder Plates,” in Art and Its Uses: The Visual Image and Modern Jewish Society. Ezra Mendelsohn, ed., Oxford University Press, 1991.