Dish

Unknown Artist

late 15th–early 16th century

Dish by Unknown Artist

Medium

Tin-glazed earthenware

Dimensions

Overall: 3 x 19 1/4 in. (7.6 x 48.9 cm)

Classification

Ceramics

Culture

Spanish

Department

The Cloisters

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

The Cloisters Collection, 1956

Accession Number

56.171.121

Tags

Coat of Arms

Art Historical Context

This elegant Spanish dish, crafted from tin-glazed earthenware in the late 15th to early 16th century, exemplifies the vibrant ceramic traditions of Renaissance Spain. Measuring a generous 19¼ inches in diameter yet only 3 inches high, it served as a grand charger—likely for display on a sideboard or special occasions rather than everyday use. The tin glaze, a hallmark technique introduced via Islamic influences during Spain's medieval period, created a smooth, opaque white surface ideal for bold painted designs, including the prominent coat of arms that adorns it, signaling the status of a no...

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