A 17th century Italian maiolica armorial albarello, dated 1638 Possibly from Pesaro or Castel Durante
Auction: 8 April 2009 at 11:30 BST
Description
of double gourd form, painted in blue, orange, yellow and green, with central inscription 'V.Madre Selva' (honeysuckle ointment) on a scroll with an escutcheon and an unidentified coat of arms above on a panel with the initials G. P. , dated 1638 above scroll
Dimensions
18cm high
Footnote
Note: a matching bottle also dated 1638 is in the V & A no. 1018.
Literature:
See Bernard Rackham, 'Catalogue of Italian Maiolica with emendations and additional bibliography' by J.V.G. Mallet, (London, 1977), cat. 1018, pl. 164, p.343, for a pair of drug bottles with a similar shield of arms and initials but in reverse (P.G) also dated 1638.
See Wendy Watson, Italian Renaissance Ceramics - The Howard I. and Janet H. Stein Collection and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, (Philadelphia, 2001), p.164, cats 80 A and B and p.209, cats. 880 A & B, for a pair of albarelli of similar shape and ground decoration.
See Rudolph E.A Drey, Apothecary Jars, (London 1978) p212 for contents