Fig. 17.—Sgraffitto Maiolica. (S.K.M.)
The wares of Caffaggiolo are distinguished by a purely white glaze, with masses of a rich cobalt blue used as portions of the groundwork for the ornament; sometimes green and purple are used with the blue, and at other times a bright orange yellow and a copper green or an Indian red. Caffaggiolo, Faenza, and Forli wares have much resemblance to each other. The pitcher (Fig. 16), with the arms of the Medici family, belongs probably to the Caffaggiolo school, and is a work of the early years of the sixteenth century.
Fig. 18.—Maiolica Plate; Caffaggiolo Ware. (S.K.M.)
The tazza (Fig. 19) is another example of this ware. The fine plate (Fig. 18) is thought to be a work from the same botega, and the subject is supposed to represent Raphael and the Fornarina.
The plate (Fig. 15) is an example of the mezzo-maiolica ware, and is anterior to the date 1500. The more beautiful one (Fig. 20) is a work dating from the first years of the sixteenth century, at the time when the stanniferous glaze was coming into use. Both these plates are supposed to be from the Pesaro fabriques. They may have been made as wedding presents from the bridegroom to the bride, and are portrait dishes, with an inscription on the ribbon, with the name of the bride, or some endearing motto.
These plates are known as “amatorri” pieces. The colours used in the Pesaro maiolica are yellow, green, manganese, black, and cobalt blue, and have what is known as the “madreperla” lustre, which has a beautiful changing effect in colour. The outlines are manganese, and the flesh left white in the best pieces. The finest work executed in Pesaro came from the fabrique of Lanfranco in the years 1540-45.
Fig. 19.—Plateau or Tazza; Caffaggiolo Ware.