Dish
Unknown Artist
late 15th–early 16th century
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
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...