Ligurian Perforated Fruit Bowl, Faience, Italy, 17th Century

Liguria – Italy
Circa 1600 – 1625

The bowl on a footring is moulded with three rows of perforations. A small building is placed on a ground with vegetation. A band of Aigrettes consisting of blue and brown hatches has been painted between the rows of perforations. The brown hatches are filled with yellow blobs.

This style of decoration is called ”compendiario” consisting of a white background with limited decoration in contrast to the ”historiato” in which the entire piece is decorated as if it were a painting. It is a style appreciating the white more and more.

This type of faience with this type of aigrette decoration has until recently been described as originating from Faenza Italy. The Italian specialist on faience from Faenza, Carmen Ravanelli Guidotti, is of the firm opinion that this type of faience does not come from Faenza but Liguria.

The bowl is in good condition, but with quite some white plaster filled chips on the rim and a few spots on the inside, consistent with use and age.

Lit. Italiaanse Grotesken en Crabben in Haarlem, J. M. Baart, Haarlem 2008.