CAFAGGIOLO
This fabrique, established towards the end of the 15th century, became very important, lasting probably throughout the 16th century. The name is spelt in different ways, such as Chaffagiuolo, but Cafaggiolo is the general form.
Fig. 20.—Plateau. St. George.
Circa 1520.
Among the ornaments on this ware are frequently tablets with SPQR and SPQF (Florentinus), and on several the motto “Semper,” adopted by Pietro de’ Medici in 1470, and continued by Lorenzo il Magnifico. The device of a triangle and the word “Glovis,” meaning when read backwards “si volge” (it turns), was used by Giuliano de’ Medici in 1516, alluding to his change of fortune.
Another characteristic of this fabrique is the dark blue background of many of the pieces, and the method in which it was coarsely applied by the brush.
Fig. 20 represents the St. George of Donatello, from the bronze statue in the church of Or San Michele, at Florence.
SIENA
The earliest specimens known of this important manufactory are some wall or floor tiles of the commencement of the 16th century. They are of maiolica, ornamented with polychrome designs of chimeræ, dragons, amorini, masks, birds, &c., beautifully painted in brilliant colours, especially orange and yellow on a black ground. They vary in shape, being triangular, pentagonal, or square, to suit the geometrical designs of the wall or floor they covered; the average diameter is 5 inches. The plate in blue camaïeu on white ground, in the accompanying illustration (Fig. 21) is signed on the reverse “fata in Siena da Mo. Benedetto.”