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A round polychrome ceramic dish decorated in trompe-l'oeil with rustic figurines* in the tradition of Bernard Palissy. Attributed to the artist José Alves Cunha in the Portuguese workshops of Caldas da Rainha. A large gray snake with textured scales undulates across the entire piece.
In the center, a spotted lizard emerges from the grass, surrounded by an insect, colorful butterflies, and a crawling worm. The background is treated with the muscado technique: the green background strikingly imitates the moss and twigs of an undergrowth.
The Portuguese production of "rustic earthenware", heavily inspired by the work of Bernard Palissy, developed in the 19th century. This movement was concentrated in Caldas da Rainha, a city that became the Portuguese capital of clay and artistic earthenware.
This dish is in good condition, superb quality. It bears the signature of the Portuguese workshop on the bottom.
Note: minor defects and wear consistent with age, see photos.
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The history of glazed earthenware during the French Renaissance is marked by the figure of Bernard Palissy (1510?-1590), a potter from Saintonge, around whom a myth has grown. In addition to his significant scientific contributions, this artist and writer is associated with the creation of "rustic earthenware," for which he received the official title of "Inventor of the King's Earthenware." This decoration, known as "rustic earthenware," consists primarily of animals (fish, lizards, frogs, crayfish), shells, and plants, rendered in high relief. Fauna and flora seem to come alive on a rocky surface. The remarkable precision of the anatomical details and the vigorous naturalism are the result of a mastery of the techniques of direct molding from nature and overmolding, as well as a knowledge of mottled glazes. (See the Louvre Museum website).
