Vase
Date: About 1510
The Italian merchant community in London constituted a small but wealthy and influential group. They imported a range of luxury commodities from their homeland to satisfy London consumers, as well as souvenirs and treasured items for personal use. Maiolica vases from Tuscany decorated with religious motifs were especially popular, and dozens of examples have been excavated in London. This vase, from about 1510, is typical. The medallion incorporates a version of the sacred 'YHS' trigram (from the Greek spelling of Jesus: IHS??S) advocated by St Bernardino in 1427, and is encircled by a band from which fan-like palms radiate in spandrels.
Accession number: 23046
Place made: Montelupo?, Italy or Pisa?, Italy or lower to mid Arno valley, Italy
Place of collection: Gateway House, 1 Watling Street EC4 [City of London] [GM160, ER161B]
Material: ceramic; earthenware
Measurements: H 140 mm; DM (max) 107 mm
Gallery location: Case 27.2
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