Two-handled cup: C.100-1991

Maker(s)

Pottery: Unidentified Orvieto pottery

Entities

• Two-handled cup

Categories

• Tin-glazed earthenware
• Maiolica

Description

Late Medieval maiolica two-handled cup, painted in black and green with, on the inside, a stylised plant.

Pale buff earthenware, tin-glazed greyish-beige on both sides; base unglazed. Painted in black and copper-green.
Shape 21. Circular with warped carinated sides, narrow foot and two loop handles of oval section.
Inside, within two black concentric circles, there is a stylised plant bearing a cone; on the outside, a horizontal `ladder' over a green horizontal band.

Notes

History note: William Ridout; Christie's, 13 December 1938, The William Ridout collection of Italian majolica, European pottery, faience and delftware, probably part of lot 107; H.S. Reitlinger (d. 1950); the Reitlinger Trust, Maidenhead, from which transferred in 1991.

Legal notes

H.S. Reitlinger Bequest, 1950; transferred from the Reitlinger Trust, 1990

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1991-04-29) by Reitlinger, Henry Scipio

Dating

13th Century
14th Century
Medieval
Circa 1250 CE - Circa 1350 CE

Note

During the thirteenth century, both underglaze-decorated and maiolica two-handled carinated cups were made in Orvieto. Lead-glazed cups appear to have persisted until towards the end of the century, judging by fragments excavated from a butto (formerly a cistern) under the Palazzo del Popolo, which was built in the early 1280s. However, the proportion of lead-glazed to tin-glazed fragments of all types from this site suggests that by then production of lead-glazed ware was declining. Maiolica carinated cups probably made their appearance between c. 1225 and c. 1250 and were made in large quantities during the Developed Phase, c.1250-1350.

School or Style

maiolica arcaica