A late 17th faience bowl, Talavera de la Reina

An earthenware bowl, polychrome series; Talavera de la Reina, circa 1675.

Ceramic bowl profusely decorated with scenes of figurative character. The most developed scene is in the center of the piece, starring two little putti in festive attitude. One of them plays the bugle, while the other one plays with a wooden horse, while holding a bird that is holding on to a rope that he holds in his hand. The piece belongs to the Polychrome series, which began to become popular in the eighteenth century, this being the period of greatest production. This series is defined by the profusion of decorative elements, where plant ornaments, as seen in this piece, have a great prominence.

See the bowl in the collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum, London (acc. no. 1279-1871) with a similar decorationin the manner of Johannes Stradanus.

Measures: 11 cm high; 26,5 cm diameter.