Medieval maiolica cup, with the Instruments of the Passion

An image of Maiolica arcaica. Two-handled cup. Unidentified Orvieto pottery, Umbria. Shape 21. Circular with carinated sides, narrow foot and two loop handles of oval section. Inside, within two manganese circles, there is a green Cross with manganese Instruments of the Passion; on the outside, oblique manganese strokes with a green and a manganese band below and a manganese above. On the right handle there is a green spot. Earthenware, tin-glazed greyish-beige on both sides, base unglazed: painted in manganese and copper-green, height, whole, 4.9 cm, diameter, foot, 4.4 cm, width, whole, 14.6 cm, circa 1250-1350. Late Medieval. Production Note: Christian symbols, principally the Cross, Instruments of the Passion and Agnus Dei occur frequently on two-handled cups and bowls found in Orvieto. Their use was probably encouraged by the Pope's and Curia's prolonged periods of residence in the city during the late 13th century, as well as by the existence of numerous religious houses and confraternities in Umbria.

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Maiolica arcaica. Two-handled cup. Unidentified Orvieto pottery, Umbria. Shape 21. Circular with carinated sides, narrow foot and two loop handles of oval section. Inside, within two manganese circles, there is a green Cross with manganese Instruments of the Passion; on the outside, oblique manganese strokes with a green and a manganese band below and a manganese above. On the right handle there is a green spot. Earthenware, tin-glazed greyish-beige on both sides, base unglazed: painted in manganese and copper-green, height, whole, 4.9 cm, diameter, foot, 4.4 cm, width, whole, 14.6 cm, circa 1250-1350. Late Medieval. Production Note: Christian symbols, principally the Cross, Instruments of the Passion and Agnus Dei occur frequently on two-handled cups and bowls found in Orvieto. Their use was probably encouraged by the Pope's and Curia's prolonged periods of residence in the city during the late 13th century, as well as by the existence of numerous religious houses and confraternities in Umbria.

Image data

Accession Number: C.99-1991
Photograph copyright © The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.
Aperture: f/19.0
Focal length: 120
Camera: Hasselblad H3DII-31
Photographer name: Katie Young
Image height: 769 pixels
Image width: 1024 pixels
Processed with: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.4 (Windows)
Filesize: 466.10kB
Exposure time: 1/180
ISO Speed: 200
Fnumber: 19/1

Key words

13th Century 14th Century Arma Christi Arms of the Passion Christianity circular cream cross crucifix crucifixion cup drinking vessel earthenware Easter Fitz_AA glazed green handle handled Instruments of the Passion Italian Late Medieval maiolica maiolica arcaica Medieval Other Keywords passion Passion of Christ pottery religion religious round tin-glazed Trecento two-handled Umbrian School vessel

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            "Medieval maiolica cup, with the Instruments of the Passion"
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