Display Plate with the Bust of a Woman
1500/30
Medium
Tin-glazed earthenware with copper luster (maiolica)
Dimensions
Diameter: 43.2 cm (17 in.), H: 9.5 cm (3 3/4 in.)
Classification
ceramics
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
25379
Art Historical Context
### Display Plate with the Bust of Woman This striking display plate, created around 1500–1530, the elegance of early Renaissance ceramics. Measuring 43.2 cm in diameter and .5 cm high, it features a finely painted bust of a woman, symbolizing ideal beauty or a noble portrait. Crafted as tin-glazed earthenware with luster—known as *maiolica*—it was designed not for dining but for wall display in affluent European homes, blending functionality with artistry. Maiolica technique originated in Italy during the Renaissance, where earthenware was coated with opaque white tin glaze to create a smoo...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...