Albarello italien en majolique de Faenza, polychrome, décor d'un portrait de femme, 15e

An early intact example, this cylindrical albarello is decorated with a central roundel showing a noble woman against a dark blue ground. The back decorated with oriental-inspired foliage. This is an early example of the Italian production, in original intact condition. Size: 24,5 cm. According to Giuliana Gardelli (Italika, Maiolica Italiani del Rinascimento, Saggi e Studi, Faenza 1999, pp. 338-339), the figure depicted might be nonna Strozzi, who married Bernardo di Nicola Barbagiani in1489, when a double medal was struck by Niccolo Spinelli. This piece, and the Damiron albarelli, might therefore possibly have formed form part of a wedding service for the couple. This hypothesis would also of course suggest an attribution to Tuscany rather than Faenza. Provenance: Ex-coll. Dirven Antiquairs, Holland. Ex-coll. Van De Loo, Eindhoven, Holland. Size: 26,5 cm