Large and Fine Hispano-Moresque Charger
Antique Hispano-Moresque large deep dish or charger, a particularly fine one of the late 17th century to 18th. With a likely town crest at its center boss, this example is large and of the period of the Spanish Christian takeover in the early 17th century of the craft from the earlier work of the Arabic Moors. That confirmed by the pseudo Arabic script as reverse signature. Very Nice condition, some common glaze flaking on its rim. Likely made at Valencia, tin glazed pottery of a rich coppery \'gold\' luster, a deep dish of 15.75 diameter and of 3.5\" deep.
Hispano-Moresque ware, tin-glazed, lustred earthenware made by Moorish potters in Spain, chiefly at Málaga in the 15th century, and in the region of Manises, near Valencia, in the 16th to early 18th century. The tin glaze was applied over a design usually traced in cobalt blue; after the first firing, the lustre, a metallic pigment, was applied by brush over the tin glaze, and the piece was fired again. The effect varies from a pale yellow iridescence in early pieces to a coarser, copperish iridescence in later work. Early designs are Islamic: the tree of life, palm motifs, and Arabic inscriptions, for example. Later designs combine Islamic and Italian Renaissance motifs. Misspelled or intentionally illegible Arabic inscriptions indicate that the work was taken over by Spanish Christian craftsmen. Imitation of this pottery in Italy led to the development of Italian maiolica ware.