Orza. Ceramic. Possibly Italy, 18th century. A globular jug with a small base, a narrow spout at the mouth (narrower than the body, and with a small neck) and a handle formed by a twisted flat element, made of glazed ceramic and decorated with a composition in blue on a white background. Around a cartouche with an inscription (“AQa di MALVA”, alluding to a remedy derived from the common mallow, a common plant in Europe that was already mentioned, along with its healing properties, by Pliny the Elder among others), and using various shades of blue, a significant variety of plant elements and flowers have been arranged, accompanied by a bird perched on the cartouche. The decoration of ceramics in blue tones on a white background was common in Europe as early as the 17th century (Dutch and English pieces, works in Talavera de la Reina in Spain, etc.). In the case of Italy and in ceramics (with this origin, usually called “maiolica”), cobalt blue decoration on white is already found in works inspired by Byzantine in the Quattrocento, accompanying various influences. In the first third of the 16th century this “porcelain” decoration (since, apparently, it was distantly inspired by Chinese porcelain works that used these colours) continued, with touches of other colours. Compare this work with the pieces known as “Medici Porcelain”, from the third quarter of the 16th century. The name “berrettina” refers to glazed majolica in light blue to dark blue, obtained with cobalt oxide. It was used from the 16th century to the first half of the 17th century, mainly in Liguria and Veneto. It is also worth mentioning a series of pieces with which this one has something more closely related: a pharmacy jar with Saint Paul (made in Savona in the 17th century, now in the International Museum of Ceramics in Faenza), or with albarelos preserved in the Museum of Hispanic Pharmacy at the Complutense University of Madrid, works from the Italian region of Savona, pieces in private collections, etc.
· Size: 24x30x26 cms.
ANTIQUES
