Lot 12
ITALIAN MAIOLICA APOTHECARY JAR
FAENZA OR POSSIBLY CASTEL DURANTE, CIRCA 1565
Auction: 26 June 2013 at 12:00 BST
Description
the globular body with a narrow short flaring rim painted in blue, yellow, orange, green, brown and purple, in the upper centre a circular medallion with the profile of a helmeted man on a yellow ground with the inscription 'ORTENSA' on a ribbon behind, the inscription 'ELL DUCIS :' (Elettuario Dulcis - sweet-tasting electuary) on a scrolling and unfurled banner on a ground of compartmentalised decoration, 'a trofei', infilled with armorial and musical trophies on a dark blue, dark green or ochre ground
Dimensions
23cm diam, 20cm high
Footnote
Provenance:
Property of a Gentleman of Title
In the collection of the family of the present owners since the late 19th / early 20th century. Entries in the family archives suggest that maiolica was acquired between 1894 and 1916 from three different sources: from G. Donaldson in 1894 (with two items bought from the Spitzer Collection) in 1896 and in 1897; from H.A. Peto in 1899 and from S.M. Crossley in 1908 and in November 1916.
Note:
See lot 13 for a similar shape but different and earlier ground decoration. See R. E. A. Drey, Apothecary Jars, London, 1978, p.199 for reference to the contents.