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Dish with arms of the Visconti family

ca. 1480–1500
Not on view
Here, a dragon-headed creature devours a somewhat complacent-looking boy. This startling image, known as the biscione (big serpent), was a heraldic symbol of the ruling family of the duchy of Milan. Filling much of the dish’s central well, it is surrounded by an irregular border of peacock feathers. Two holes in the foot ring allowed the dish to be suspended on the wall, where it would be viewed as a bold statement of Milanese allegiance.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Dish with arms of the Visconti family
  • Date: ca. 1480–1500
  • Culture: Italian, probably Deruta
  • Medium: Maiolica (tin-glazed earthenware)
  • Dimensions: Overall (confirmed): 3 5/16 × 15 in. (8.4 × 38.1 cm)
  • Classification: Ceramics-Pottery
  • Credit Line: Fletcher Fund, 1946
  • Object Number: 46.85.16
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

More Artwork

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Bowl with The Virgin and the Unicorn and arms of Matthias Corvinus and Beatrice of Aragon, Maiolica (tin-glazed earthenware), Italian, Pesaro
Bowl with The Virgin and the Unicorn and arms of Matthias Corvinus and Beatrice of Aragon
Italian, Pesaro
probably ca. 1486–88
Dish with The Woman of Sestos and the Eagle and arms of the Pucci family, Fra Xanto Avelli da Rovigo, Maiolica (tin-glazed earthenware), Italian, Urbino
Dish with The Woman of Sestos and the Eagle and arms of the Pucci family
Fra Xanto Avelli da Rovigo
1532
Plate with arms of the Tosinghi family, Unknown Artist working in Tuscany, Maiolica (tin-glazed earthenware), lustered, Italian, Deruta
Plate with arms of the Tosinghi family
Unknown Artist
ca. 1500–1510
Plate with seated woman reading to a child, Marco Dente Italian, Maiolica (tin-glazed earthenware), lustered, Italian, Deruta
Plate with seated woman reading to a child
Marco Dente
Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio or Santi)
ca. 1530
Pharmacy jar (albarello), Giacomo Mancini, "El Frate" Italian, Maiolica (tin-glazed earthenware), Italian, Deruta
Pharmacy jar (albarello)
Giacomo Mancini, "El Frate"
dated 1573

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