Lot Essay
As recounted by Ovid [Metamorphoses XIV: 320-396], Picus was out hunting boar when the sorceress Circe saw him and became enamored. She changed him into a woodpecker.
Details
A MAIOLICA LUSTRED ISTORIATO TONDO
URBINO, DATED 1533, BY FRANCESCO XANTO AVELLI DA ROVIGO, LUSTRED BY MAESTRO GIORGIO ANDREOLI OF GUBBIO
Painted in strong colors heightened with gold and ruby lustre, depicting the story of Picus and Circe, the underside with gold and copper lustre arabesques, inscribed in blue 'De pico e Canéte' and in lustre '1533 Mo Giorgio da Ugubio', inscribed in red crayon '359', the same number printed on a paper label which is inscribed in blue crayon '67' and in pencil '265', with oval orange paper label illegibly inscribed and paper inventory label inscribed in type 'L.53.45.128' (extensively restored) ----- 10¾in. (27.5cm.) diam.
URBINO, DATED 1533, BY FRANCESCO XANTO AVELLI DA ROVIGO, LUSTRED BY MAESTRO GIORGIO ANDREOLI OF GUBBIO
Painted in strong colors heightened with gold and ruby lustre, depicting the story of Picus and Circe, the underside with gold and copper lustre arabesques, inscribed in blue 'De pico e Canéte' and in lustre '1533 Mo Giorgio da Ugubio', inscribed in red crayon '359', the same number printed on a paper label which is inscribed in blue crayon '67' and in pencil '265', with oval orange paper label illegibly inscribed and paper inventory label inscribed in type 'L.53.45.128' (extensively restored) ----- 10¾in. (27.5cm.) diam.
Provenance
Alessandro Castellani, Rome, no. 66; H. Hoffman & C. Mannheim, experts, April 2, 1884, lot ?
Richard Zschille, Prague; Christie's London, June 1, 1899,
lot 100 (# .. to ...)
Dr. Alfred Pringsheim, Munich; Sotheby & Co., June 7-8, 1939, lot 167 (#65 to Goldschmidt on behalf of Robert Lehman)
Robert Lehman, New York
Richard Zschille, Prague; Christie's London, June 1, 1899,
lot 100 (# .. to ...)
Dr. Alfred Pringsheim, Munich; Sotheby & Co., June 7-8, 1939, lot 167 (#65 to Goldschmidt on behalf of Robert Lehman)
Robert Lehman, New York
Literature
O. von Falke, Sammlung Richard Zschille: Katalog der Italienischen Majoliken, Leipzig, 1899, no. 100, tafel 7
O. von Falke, Die Majolikasammling Alfred Pringsheim in München, Berliln, 1923, no. 265
O. von Falke, Die Majolikasammling Alfred Pringsheim in München, Berliln, 1923, no. 265