Anonymous, Mexican School (Early 19th Century)

Of circular form, with polychromed lacquer and painted decoration on wood, depicting a bull fighting scene in the central panel, surrounded by concentric bands of dot and scroll motifs, as well as animals, figures and floral sprays on the outer bands.

This exceptionally large and delicately ornate batea (tray or bowl) has as its main theme the bull fight or tauromaquia, a tradition intimately associated with Spanish culture. In the center medallion, the toreador teases the bull while the comissars and picadors on horseback (wearing turbans) surround them. The figures and animals depicted around the border are interspersed with decorative motifs inspired by both pre-Columbian pottery design and Chinese porcelain. 

 

As is evident upon closer inspection, this work appears to be the handiwork of more than one artisan as the central panel seems to have been painted by a different hand than the rest of the batea.  Several different artisan workshops in Michoacán such as Pátzcuaro, Peribán and Uruapan that produced an assortment of fine lacquerware during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.