PROBABLY VALENCIA (MANISES), SOUTH EAST SPAIN, 1525-75

Details

A HISPANO-MORESQUE LUSTRE DISH
PROBABLY VALENCIA (MANISES), SOUTH EAST SPAIN, 1525-75
With slightly raised centre and everted slightly rounded rim, the pale cream interior with scrolling fruiting tendrils around the large central figure of a griffin, the reverse with a band of simple spiralling motifs and plain concentric circles, originally drilled, repaired clean breaks, chips.
153/8in. (39cm.) diam.

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

This dish belongs to a small group referred to as the dentil border or de la ungla group, which are typified by the small loops around the rim (Ray, Anthony: Spanish Pottery 1248-1898, London, 2000, p.129). They usually, as here, depict large animals or birds, either singly or in pairs, filling most of the dish. They seem to represent a late phase of mudejar decoration and so must predate the expulsion of the Moors in 1609-10. Two of the group are in the Victoria and Albert Museum, depicting a bull and depicting two birds (Ray, Anthony: op.cit., nos.265 and 266, pp.129-130 and plate 32). The griffin seen here is a rare subject.

More from ISLAMIC ART AND MANUSCRIPTS

View All