Plaque, Christ and Disciples at Gethsemane
Unknown Artist
ca. 1480
Medium
Earthenware, glazed & polychrome (Hafner ware)
Dimensions
Overall: 7 9/16 x 4 13/16 x 5/8in. (19.2 x 12.2 x 1.6cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture
German
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of R. Thornton Wilson, in memory of his wife, Florence Ellsworth Wilson, 1977
Accession Number
1977.216.61
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite earthenware plaque, titled *Christ and Disciples at Gethane*, dates to around 1480 and hails from Germany, exemplifying the vibrant Hafner ware tradition. Crafted by an unknown artist, it measures just 7 9/16 x 4 13/16 inches, making it a compact yet striking devotional object. Hafner ware, produced by specialized potters (Hafner meaning "stove-maker"), features tin-glazed earthenware with polychrome decoration—vibrant glazes in blues, greens, yellows, and whites that brought biblical narratives to life in everyday settings like home altars or tiled stoves. Depicting the poigna...