Italian, probably Pesaro, circa 1480

Dr. Robert Bak Collection, New York;

Sotheby’s New York, 7 December 1965, lot 28; 

Christie’s London, 25 February 1991, lot 51; 

Italika Collection, Sicily, no. M66;

Tajan, Paris, Collection Italika : Majoliques italiennes de la Renaissance, 15 March 2005. 

G. Gardelli, Italika Maiolica Italiana del Rinascimento. Saggi e studi, Faenza, 1999, no. 167, p. 371;

G. Donatone, La maiolica napoletana del Rinascimento, Naples, 1994, fig. 140.

This piece belongs to a group of slender albarelli attributed to Pesaro based on the study of maiolica fragments with similar blue decoration found there. In the late 15th century, Pesaro, alongside Faenza, was among the most dynamic and successful maiolica-producing towns in Italy. 

For a full list and description of tall albarelli from Pesaro with extensive use of dark blue see A. Ciaroni 2004 (with writings of Massimo Moretti e Paolo Piovaticci).

RELATED LITERATURE

A. Ciaroni, Maioliche del Quattrocento a Pesaro. Frammenti di Storia dell’arte ceramica dalla bottega dei Fedeli, Florence, 2004, tables 134-143; 

M. Agnellini, Maioliche. Storia e produzione italiana della metà del Quattrocento ai primi decenni del Novecento, Milan, 1992, p.49.