Dish (tondino)
Unknown Artist
ca. 1530
Medium
Maiolica (tin-glazed earthenware)
Dimensions
Diameter: 9 3/16 in. (23.4 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Pottery
Culture
Italian, Gubbio
Department
Robert Lehman Collection
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
Accession Number
1975.1.1079
Tags
Art Historical Context
This charming *Dish (tondino)*, crafted around 1530 in Gubbio, Italy, the Renaissance mastery of maiolica—tin-glazed earthenware allowed for vibrant, painterly decorations on pottery. Measuring just 9 3/16 inches in, this small round dish (tondino) was likely used for serving sweets or preserves, blending functionality with artistry. Produced in Gubbio, a hub for innovative ceramic techniques, it features the iconic tag of Cupid, evoking the playful, amorous themes popular in Italian Renaissance art inspired by classical antiquity. Maiolica from Gubbio was renowned for its lustrous glazes, ac...