After the year 1525 Urbino became the leading majolica manufacturing centre in Italy, surpassing the renown of Faenza. The peculiarity of majolica produced in Urbino was polychrome figural decor. It covered the surface of pottery vertically, often neglecting the curves of the forms. Scenes from ancient Greek mythology and illustrations to the works of Ovid, Titus Livius, Homer, Ariosto et al. were very popular. Majority of the compositions were borrowed from contemporary Italian and German prints. Ornaments imitated the grotesques of Raphael in the loggias of Vatican. Dominant colours were yellow, blue, green and black.
The pair of vases with serpent-shaped handles and plastic mascarons represent the expressive trend, which prevailed in Urbino in the last quarter of the 16th century. The same shapes are characteristic of Urbino luxury vases made after 1575.
The vase is decorated with the scene of Iphigenia being taken to the sacrificial altar and most probably sea-nymph Galatea playing in the sea.
The vase ise decorated with the scene of the gods’s messenger Hermes bringing tidings to Iphigenia and sea-nymph Galatea with sea gods.