Vases in the style of Urbino Renaissance
19th century. Majolica, polychrome decoration
The decorative vases with snake-shaped handles imitate Urbino majolica vases from the 2nd half of the 16th century. Urbino developed into a leading majolica centre in Italy around the 1520s, and retained its position until the industry gradually died out at the end of the 17th century. The majolica from Urbino is characterised by blue-yellow-green figurative decorations, often depicting scenes from the Antiquity; grotesque and arabesque ornaments were added at a later period.
16th-century Urbino majolica vases became fashionable again in the middle of the 19th century. On the one hand, this had to do with the political events that took place in Italy: the movement to unite Italy, which in the sphere of culture meant looking towards the glorious past of the country. On the other hand, this tendency was supported by developments all over Europe: an increased interest in history, the opening of applied art museums, the revival of arts and crafts, all of which secured a place in art collections for neo-renaissance items. Until the middle of the 20th century, such earthenware was produced in Italy as historicist renaissance-style majolica, and also as forgeries. In some cases it is difficult to determine whether an item is a historicist repetition or a forgery.
Vases in the style of Urbino Renaissance
19th century. Majolica, polychrome decoration
The decorative vases with snake-shaped handles imitate Urbino majolica vases from the 2nd half of the 16th century. Urbino developed into a leading majolica centre in Italy around the 1520s, and retained its position until the industry gradually died out at the end of the 17th century. The majolica from Urbino is characterised by blue-yellow-green figurative decorations, often depicting scenes from the Antiquity; grotesque and arabesque ornaments were added at a later period.
16th-century Urbino majolica vases became fashionable again in the middle of the 19th century. On the one hand, this had to do with the political events that took place in Italy: the movement to unite Italy, which in the sphere of culture meant looking towards the glorious past of the country. On the other hand, this tendency was supported by developments all over Europe: an increased interest in history, the opening of applied art museums, the revival of arts and crafts, all of which secured a place in art collections for neo-renaissance items. Until the middle of the 20th century, such earthenware was produced in Italy as historicist renaissance-style majolica, and also as forgeries. In some cases it is difficult to determine whether an item is a historicist repetition or a forgery.
