Large Deep Bowl with Four Pendant Rings

Deep Wide Bowl with 
Four Pendant Rings
Manises, late 14th - early 15th centuries
Ceramic decorated in blue
with pale gold luster
H. 13.4 cm; diam. 46.2 cm
Purchased in 1851
Cl. 1978

In the centre, a white flower with 8 petals is inside a blue rosette whose petals are highlighted with golden spirals. It is held by two blue squares arranged at a 45° angle, forming a star with eight points. Four rows of trefoiled arcades radiate towards the edge, decorated with white in the first, blue in the second, on a gold background . The third shows gold trees of life on a white background. The last shows a blue decoration highlighted on the axis by a spot of white on a gold background, with patterns in the corners. On the back, on a white background a rich decoration of gilded grain spikes rotating artound a rosette placed in the foot. The decoration on the face is typical of Malaga production, but the one on the bottom seem to indicate that this is an example of imitation of this type by the then new Valencian workshops.