Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Maiolica

Anonymous Italian Workshop 
Dish
(Death of Samson)
ca. 1520
maiolica
Victoria & Albert Museum, London


Anonymous Italian Workshop
Dish
(Capitanio Gintile on Banderole)
ca. 1525
maiolica
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Anonymous Italian Workshop
Plaque
(Virgin and Child enthroned with Saints)
ca. 1540
maiolica
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Anonymous Italian Workshop
Dish
(ornamental motif)
1544
maiolica
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Anonymous Italian Workshop
Plate
(Moses striking the Rock)
ca. 1560-70
maiolica
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Anonymous Italian Workshop
Dish
(Pilgrim to Santiago de Compostela)
ca. 1600
maiolica
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Anonymous Italian Workshop
Drug Jar
(containing Sang. Lepor or Hare's Blood)
ca. 1620-50
maiolica
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Anonymous Italian Workshop
Plate
ca. 1650
maiolica
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Anonymous Italian Workshop
Sauce Boat
17th century
maiolica
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Anonymous Italian Workshop
Holy Water Stoup
17th century
maiolica
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Anonymous Italian Workshop
Tray
ca. 1690-1710
maiolica
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Anonymous Italian Workshop
Albarello
(drug jar with spout)
ca. 1700-1750
maiolica
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Anonymous Italian Workshop
Soup Plate
ca. 1750-60
maiolica
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Anonymous Italian Workshop
Albarello with Cover
(drug jar with spout)
ca. 1765-75
maiolica
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Anonymous Italian Workshop
Vase with Cover
ca. 1780
maiolica
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Anonymous Italian Workshop
Plate
(Allegory of Peace)
ca. 1870
maiolica
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

Anonymous Italian Workshop
Kitchen Mold
19th century
maiolica
Victoria & Albert Museum, London

from Matinées

We love the good, said Plato? He was wrong.
We love as well the wicked and the weak.
Flesh hugs its shaved plush. Twenty-four-hour-long
Galas fill the hulk of the Comique.

Flesh knows by now what dishes to avoid,
Tries not to brood on bomb or heart attack.
Anatomy is destiny, said Freud.
Soul is the brilliant hypochondriac.

Soul will cough blood and sing, and softer sing,
Drink poison, breathe her joyous last, a waltz
Rubato from his arms who sobs and stays

Behind, death after death, who fairly melts
Watching her turn from him, restored, to fling
Kisses into the furnace roaring praise. 

– James Merrill (1969)