In the 16th century a favourite decoration was grotesques and arabesques in blue camaïeu on yellow ground, or alternately on the two colours (see Fig. 15). The reverses of the Faenza plates are frequently light blue, with concentric circles or a spiral line in a darker colour; when white, with imbrications or zones alternately blue and yellow. Another peculiarity by which the Faenza ware is known, is the presence of red.
Fig. 15.—Plate. Arms and Arabesques.
16th Century.
DIRUTA
Many of the lustred pieces of maiolica, with light yellow lustre edged with blue, which were attributed formerly to Pesaro, have been now classed among the wares made at Diruta, from the circumstance of a plate in the Pourtalès Collection—subject, one of Ovid’s Metamorphoses, being similarly decorated with the yellow lustre, and signed by El Frate of Diruta, 1541. Some specimens have “In Deruta” inscribed at length; others have simply the letter D with a bar through it; and early pieces have the signature of the painter, El Frate, but without the yellow lustre.
Fig. 16.—Plate. Blue and White.
16th Century.
Fig. 17.—Plate. Inscribed “Sura Fiore.”
About 1520.