A great trade was carried on in pharmacy vases or Vasi da Spezieria, covered with grotesque heads, cornucopiæ, &c., designed and shaded with light blue, touched with yellow, orange, brown and green, the patterns being mostly in a bold style.
FAENZA
If not the most ancient, Faenza was one of the most celebrated of the manufactories of maiolica in Italy. It was this town that gave to the French the name by which they have to the present day distinguished their enamelled pottery, as Spain had previously supplied the name to Italy. Thus in Italy it was called maiolica from Maiorca, and in France, faïence from Faenza. The earliest dated piece now extant is probably a plate in the Musée de Cluny, dated 1475, made by Nicolaus de Ragnolis. Another specimen, in the Sèvres Museum, is inscribed “Nicolaus Orsini, 1477”; and in the same collection is a plate, signed “Don Giorgio, 1485,” probably by Maestro Giorgio.
Fig. 12.—Plaque. “Andrea di Bono, 1491.”
Fig. 13.—Plate. With an Emblem of Two Hearts pierced
with Arrows and the Motto “En Piu.”
15th Century.
The products of this fabrique retained for a long time a special character by which they are easily identified; at first the outlines of the figures were very simple and formal; the yellow lustre does not appear to have been adopted.
Fig. 14.—Plaque. Joseph sold by his Brethren.
16th Century.