AN HISPANO-MORESQUE RUBY COPPER LUSTRE POTTERY VASE
Manises, Post-Nasrid Spain, first half 17th century

Of globular shape, resting on a splayed short foot, rising to a straight cylindrical neck, the body decorated with almond-shaped moulded indentations enhanced with copper lustre-painted oval designs, rosettes and interlocking vegetal trellis, around the shoulders four curved handles with stud-like thumb-rests, the shape and design reminiscent of Islamic mosque lamps, 14cm diam. and 20cm high.

An almost identical example of pottery vase (called orza in Spanish) attributed to the renowned kiln of Manises, specialised in copper lustre pottery since the 15th century, and dating to 1600 - 1620, is currently exhibited at the National Museum of Ceramics and Decorative Arts "González Martí" in Valencia, Spain (inv. no. 1/18128).