Dish with two lovers

Unknown

ca. 1520–50 · Maiolica (tin-glazed earthenware), lustered · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

The likely contexts for the display of large dishes are not easily identified. Clues might be found in a dish's subject matter, which was often either amorous—as with this embracing couple—or religious. Both subjects are essentially domestic, lending themselves to the private spaces of a wealthy home. The metallic sheen on this dish, the result of a difficult technique called lustering, would have made it all the more desirable to a Renaissance patron.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1520–50

Medium

Maiolica (tin-glazed earthenware), lustered

Culture

Italian, Deruta

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Purchase, 1884