{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O138213"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O138213/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BR9908/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BR9908/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2008BR9908","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2007BL9024","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JW3271","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O138213/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O138213","accessionNumber":"C.330-1914","objectType":"Basin","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Basins were important items for hygiene in the Middle Ages. Contemporary images show us that diners would wash their hands before and during meals. Decorated basins, such as this one, would hold floral and herbal scented water.\r\n\r\nThe decoration on this bowl is simple but elegantly painted to fit the concave structure. Images of fish were common in both the Middle East and in the West.\r\n\r\nBasins with similar decoration have been attributed to ceramic production centres in Orvieto, in the Umbrian region of Italy. Documentary evidence informs us that Orivieto was a production centre from the 13th century. Ceramic manufacture here began to decline in the latter part of the 14th century as it was badly affected by the ravages of the Black Death. \r\n\r\nThis basin was said to have been found in Orvieto.In the late 19th and early 20th cetnries, the Italian government was investing in the redevelopment of towns such as Orivieto. A large number of medieval ceramics were discovered in the old water systems of the town such as in wells. Accurate dating of these ceramics was not possible but more recent excavations enable us to date these ceramics more precisely.\r\n\r\nGreen and brown decoration seems to have been characteristic of Orivieto production from its beginnings in the middle of the 13th century and into the 15th century. This simple colour scheme is also found in Tuscany, Liguria, and other centres bordering on the western Mediterranean in France and in Spain. Availibility of colouring agents and the popularity of this colour scheme influenced its spread and longevity.","physicalDescription":"Basin with a flat base and flaring sides with narrow flat rim. Inside on the bottom, a fish in a medallion; round the sides a formal repeating leaf pattern painted in reserve in manganese. The outside covered with a yellow lead glaze.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"earthenware","id":"x29356"},{"text":"tin glaze","id":"AAT233436"}],"techniques":[{"text":"painted","id":"AAT54216"},{"text":"glazed","id":"AAT53914"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Earthenware covered with a thin tin-opacified lead glaze and painted","categories":[{"text":"Ceramics","id":"THES48982"},{"text":"Earthenware","id":"THES48964"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"CER","id":"THES48594"},"images":["2008BR9908","2007BL9024","2017JW3271"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"137 (VA)","id":"THES49876"},"free":"","case":"36","shelf":"2","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Basin","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Orvieto","id":"x40179"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1375-1425","earliest":"1370-01-01","latest":"1425-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Sydney Vacher","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"25","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":"conversion from inches"},{"dimension":"Height","value":"9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"The donor of this jug, Sydney Vacher, acquired it at the sale of the the collections of Avvocato Mancioni and Cavaliere Capitano Lucatelli, Cat. Sotheby's, London 16-17 Feb. 1914\r\nSaid to have been found in a well in Orvieto.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Basin of buff-coloured earthenware, covered with a thin tin glaze and painted, Orvieto, ca. 1375-1425.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Bernard Rackham, Catalogue of Italian Maiolica in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 1940"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"fish","id":"x30068"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Bowl of enamelled earthenware (maiolica), painted in manganese purple and green with a fish.\r\nFound in a pozzo at Orvieto.\r\nItalian, 14th or early 15th century\r\nFrom the collections of Signor Avvocato Marcioni and Cavaliere Capitano Lucatelli","date":{"text":"1914","earliest":"1914-01-01","latest":"1914-12-31"}},{"text":"Basin of enamelled earthenware (maiolica) painted in manganese-purple and green.\r\nFound at Orvieto.\r\nItalian, late 14th or early 15th century\r\nFrom the Marcioni-Lucatelli Collection","date":{"text":"post 1914 and pre 1952","earliest":"1915-01-01","latest":"1952-12-31"}},{"text":"Basin, earthenware\r\nDug up at Orvieto\r\nItalian, first half of 15th century\r\nGiven by Mr. Sydney Vacher","date":{"text":"1952","earliest":"1952-01-01","latest":"1952-12-31"}},{"text":"12. Fragmentary basin with fish design\r\nItaly (Orvieto), about 1375-1425\r\nEarthenware painted with colours into the opaque tin-glaze \r\nFish are often found on ceramics made around the Mediterranean coast. \r\nMuseum no. C.330-1914. Bought.","date":{"text":"2007","earliest":"2007-01-01","latest":"2007-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["C.330-1914"],"accessionNumberNum":"330","accessionNumberPrefix":"C","accessionYear":1914,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Rackham (1940)","id":"THES56972"},"number":"16"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-09","recordCreationDate":"2007-08-03","availableToBook":false}}