Albarello
Unknown Artist
ca. 1460–80
Medium
Maiolica (tin-glazed earthenware)
Dimensions
Overall (confirmed): 13 9/16 x 5 5/8 x 5 5/8 in. (34.4 x 14.3 x 14.3 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Pottery
Culture
Italian, Faenza
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Frederick C. Hewitt Fund, 1911
Accession Number
11.130.2
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of Renaissance Italy with this exquisite *Albarello*, a tin-glazed earthenware jar in Faenza around 1460–80. Hailing from one of Europe's premier ceramic centers, Faenza gave its name to "faïence," the French term for this dazzling technique. Standing at over 13 inches tall, cylindrical vessel with its elegant proportions was designed for practical beauty, likely serving as a pharmacy jar to store precious medicinal herbs, spices, or ointments. Maiolica's magic lies in its tin-glaze, which creates an impervious white surface perfect for bold, colorful paintings tha...