Bowl with a Horseman Spearing a Serpent

Unknown

late 1300s or early 1400s · Tin-glazed earthenware · Medieval Art

The city of Málaga in the Islamic kingdom of Granada was one of the earliest centers for the production of lusterware in Spain. The virtuosity of its wares, notable for their dense patterns of shimmering gold, often accented with blue, was renowned. One medieval writer, describing the extraordinary reach of Málagan ceramics, claimed that "all countries clamor for it." The choice of decoration was sometimes indebted to Islamic motifs but could also be drawn from Western imagery, as is the case with this representation of a horseman spearing a serpent, perhaps inspired by the legend of Saint George and the dragon.

Artist

Unknown

Date

late 1300s or early 1400s

Medium

Tin-glazed earthenware

Culture

Spanish

Department

Medieval Art

Credit line

Gift of George Blumenthal, 1941