- 107
An important Hispano-Moresque armorial lustre pottery dish, Valencia, probably Manises, 15th century
Estimate
25,000 - 35,000 GBP
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Description
- glazed pottery
with golden lustre marguerite flowerheads encircled by dark blue outlines, framing a heraldic coat of arms in the centre
Provenance
Ex-Collection Bellini, Florence
Ex-Collection Virga, Palermo
Ex-Collection Virga, Palermo
Exhibited
Le Mille e una Notte, Faenza, Palazzo delle Esposizioni, 1990
Literature
Le Mille e una Notte, Faenza, Palazzo delle Esposizioni, Gruppo Editoriale Faenza Editrice, 1990, p.185.
Condition
Extensive breaks and repair with overpainting, under black light, restoration is visible from 8 o'clock to 9, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
Hispano-Moresque lustre pottery attracted not only Muslim and Christian patrons from Spain, but was also sought after by aristocratic families in countries such as France and Italy. Heraldic emblems, such as the one at the centre of the present example attest to this patronage. A surviving document records the queen Dona Maria of Aragon, wife of Alfonso V, placing an order for specific lustre ware pieces in 1454.
This particular design, which uses motifs borrowed from the Islamic tradition (notably the set of bold blue interlocking roundels enclosing finely drawn 'marguerites') in combination with a central Christian heraldic medallion that they frame, can be traced to the fifteenth century and is largely associated with special commissions for celebratory occasions. A dish with a similar decorative scheme of dark blue outlined marguerite roundels joined by figure-of-eight knots is now in the Musée de Cluny, Paris, inv. no. 2240 and D.S. no 2750 (illustrated in Montagut 1996, pp.72-73, no.14).
The coat of arms represented may possibly be that of the Borja family, the Spanish branch of the famous Borgia family who were originally from Valencia. This dish is exemplary of the vivacious designs and bold combinations of colours so often associated with the best examples of Hispano-Moresque lustre pottery production.
This particular design, which uses motifs borrowed from the Islamic tradition (notably the set of bold blue interlocking roundels enclosing finely drawn 'marguerites') in combination with a central Christian heraldic medallion that they frame, can be traced to the fifteenth century and is largely associated with special commissions for celebratory occasions. A dish with a similar decorative scheme of dark blue outlined marguerite roundels joined by figure-of-eight knots is now in the Musée de Cluny, Paris, inv. no. 2240 and D.S. no 2750 (illustrated in Montagut 1996, pp.72-73, no.14).
The coat of arms represented may possibly be that of the Borja family, the Spanish branch of the famous Borgia family who were originally from Valencia. This dish is exemplary of the vivacious designs and bold combinations of colours so often associated with the best examples of Hispano-Moresque lustre pottery production.