Italian, Second Half of 19th century, Perhaps made in the Ginori Factory

Sir Otto Beit Collection (1865 - 1930);

Christie’s London 8 July 2002, lot 203;

Angela von Wallwitz, Munich (as a copy);

Where acquired.

Formerly on loan to the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff.

A. Van de Put and Bernard Rackham, Catalogue of the Collection of Pottery and Porcelain in the possession of Mr. Otto Beit, 1916, no. 869.

This pilgrim flask is a copy of a 16th century example in the Museo Nazionale del Bargello, from the workshop of the Fontana Family, circa 1550-1560. For reference see M. Marini, Maioliche e ceramiche del Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Turin, 2024, no. 277, p.218.

The scene, painted on both sides, shows two groups of standard-bearers upholding the banners of the Roman army. On one side, four aquiliferi raise the symbol of the eagle, the sacred symbol of Roman legions, all wearing the typical animal skin uniform. The other side shows two vexilliferi and two draconaii who are bearing flags with the name and number of the legion and long and narrow banners with dolphin heads. The subject represented here probably derived from a series of designs by Giulio Romano based on reliefs on Trajan’s column. 

RELATED LITERATURE

M. Marini, Maioliche e ceramiche del Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Turin, 2024, No.277, p.218.