Bowl with a Horseman Spearing a Serpent
Unknown Artist
late 1300s or early 1400s
Medium
Tin-glazed earthenware
Dimensions
Overall: 3 5/8 x diam. 17 5/16 in. (9.2 x diam. 44 cm) depth of dish: 3 in. (7.6 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture
Spanish
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of George Blumenthal, 1941
Accession Number
41.100.173
Tags
Art Historical Context
This stunning tin-glazed earthenware bowl crafted in Spain during the late 130s or early 1400s, captures a dramatic scene of a horseman spearing a serpent. Measuring about 17 inches in diameter with a 3-inch depth, it's prime example of medieval ceramics designed for both practical use and display. The central motif—evoking themes of heroism and combat against chaos—features a dynamic rider on horseback, lance poised, surrounded by motifs of men, horses, and hunting, common in the era's decorative arts. Tin-glazing, a technique introduced to Spain via Islamic influences during the medieval pe...