Ewer
Category
Ceramics
Date
1585 - 1610
Materials
tiny-glazed earthenware
Measurements
420 x 210 x 230 mm
Place of origin
Lyon
Order this imageCollection
Polesden Lacey, Surrey
NT 1245546
Summary
Ewer, earthenware with tin-glazed (maiolica) decoration, probably painted by Giulio Gambini, made in Lyon, France about 1585–1610. The neck is modelled with three moulded grotesque masks and with a lion's mask below its one handle. It is decorated with a biblical scene from Genesis showing Hamor and Shechem asking Jacob's consent to the marriage of Dinah and Shechem. The scene is taken from an engraving by Bernard Solomon which is included in a book of biblical illustrations published in Lyon.
Full description
Ewer, earthenware with tin-glazed (maiolica) decoration, probably painted by Giulio Gambini, made in Lyon, France about 1585–1610. The neck is modelled with three moulded grotesque masks and with a lion's mask below its one handle. It is decorated with a biblical scene from Genesis showing Hamor and Shechem asking Jacob's consent to the marriage of Dinah and Shechem. The scene is taken from an engraving by Bernard Solomon which is included in a book of biblical illustrations published in Lyon. Giulio Gambini was a maiolica painter originally from Faenza, Italy. In the mid-16th century he migrated to France for work, when his skills, like that of a number of other Italian craftspeople were in demand. He later moved to Nevers and went into partnership with fellow Italian potter Agostino Corrado (Augustin Conrade). Lyon had a large Italian population from about 1512, with potters described as 'Florentines'. In reality these ceramic makers came from a number of different towns in Italy where maiolica making was an established industry.
Provenance
From the Spitzer Collection, Catalogue, Vol. IV, Paris 1892, No. 139, where it is attributed to Urbino or Castel Durante. From the J.E. Taylor collection, sold at Christie's, 2 July 1912, lot 122. The bequest of Margaret (Anderson) McEwan, The Hon. Mrs Ronald - later Dame Margaret - Henry Fulke Greville, DBE (1863-1942) from probate records linked with the donation of the property to the National Trust in 1943. This item found on the record for Polesden Lacey Majolica stored in the basement, page 96.
