Dish with centaur and centauress battling

Unknown

ca. 1500–1510 · Maiolica (tin-glazed earthenware), lustered · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

This plate belongs to a category of maiolica known as lusterware due to the iridescence of some of the colors employed in its decoration. When fired in the kiln, the metallic oxides turn into metal on the surface of the pottery, resulting in a lustrous surface with reflective properties The scene depicted on this plate of a male centaur vanquishing a female centaur is uncommon in Renaissance art, and its significance is unclear, as is that of the letters FR[the R crossed].ELAF.MI. that appear on the scroll above the two figures.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1500–1510

Medium

Maiolica (tin-glazed earthenware), lustered

Culture

Italian, Deruta or Gubbio

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929