Portugese Maiolica Large Bowl, Circa 1630
An extremely rare Portuguese Maiolica Basin, of massive size, with everted straight sides and elaborate ‘pie-crust’ edge, decorated in underglaze blue with very oriental influenced seated deer within a formal landscape beneath a palm tree, the sides with a formal panelled oriental floral border.
A marvelous example of the Portugese maiolica in copying the very finest and broadly decorated Kraak porcelain of the 1640’s, with a charming rendition of a deer in the centre which evokes the moorish influence which binds the design together. The double piecrust edge is a great rarity.
For similar examples of this very rare type of decoration and influence see Exhibition catalogue ‘Oriental Influence on 17th century Portuguese ceramics’ Museu Nacional do Azulejo. Particularly the section written by Joao Pedro Monteirop and catalogue p. 107, no. 61. for a dish from the Museo dos Biscainhos, Braga.