CERAMIC BOWL. TALAVERA. 17-18TH CENTURIES

Bowl, Talavera, late 17th – early 18th century. Glazed ceramic. Ceramic bowl decorated with high-temperature glazes on an opaque white tin slip. The polychromy is based on typical Talavera colours: cobalt blue, copper green, manganese black, antimony yellow and iron ochres, browns and oranges. These glazes were applied to the raw slip, so the piece was fired only twice: once for the paste and once for the slip and glazes. In addition, the colours were protected with a varnish, which was also fired in this second firing. The pieces were placed in the kiln in blankets or boxes, so that the colours would not burn (they are fired at a very high temperature, 900º). In general, those from Talavera will be well fired, without significant defects. The peak of this ceramic manufacture will take place between the 16th century and the mid-18th century, when the French taste was introduced to Spain, and the clientele began to prefer pieces from Alcora. However, Talavera would experience a new Golden Age at the end of the 19th century, with historicism. This piece features a typical Talavera decoration, which would be widely imitated in other centres throughout the Modern Age: a rampant animal in the centre, on a schematic ground plane, flanked by two large plant elements. The decoration is completed with synthesised plant elements and bands of concentric lines, inside and out.

· Size: 32x32x15 cms.